Red Bulls’ Max Verstappen held off a hard charging Lewis Hamilton to extend his Formula 1 World Drivers’ Championship lead with victory at the US Grand Prix.
Verstappen opted to pit earlier than expected twice and on both occassions the decision paid off as the Dutchman was able to overtake his championship rival.
Hamilton can’t get DRS
Hamilton fought hard to get within the DRS zone in the final three laps of the race, but in the end Verstappen did enough to keep the Mercedes out of reach, though it was desperately close.
Verstappen held his nerve though as a mistake by Hamilton on the final lap ensured that the Red Bull didn’t have to fend off a last-ditch overtake attempt.
Red Bull’s second driver, Sergio Perez, rounded off the podium, a finish that strengthens the team’s bid for the constructor’s title with Valtteri Bottas only managing sixth.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finished fourth again while Daniel Ricciardo came home fifth in his McLaren, while their respective teammates were seventh and eighth.
Yuki Tsunoda picked up some championship points with a ninth place finish and Sebastain Vettel’s late charge earned the final point.
US Grand Prix results
| 2021 F1 UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX – RESULTS | ||||
| POS | DRIVER | NAT. | TEAM | TIME |
| 1 | Max Verstappen | NED | Red Bull Racing | 56 Laps |
| 2 | Lewis Hamilton | GBR | Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team | + 1.333s |
| 3 | Sergio Perez | MEX | Red Bull Racing | + 42.223s |
| 4 | Charles Leclerc | MON | Scuderia Ferrari Mission Winnow | + 52.246s |
| 5 | Daniel Ricciardo | AUS | McLaren F1 Team | + 76.854s |
| 6 | Valtteri Bottas | FIN | Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team | + 80.128s |
| 7 | Carlos Sainz | ESP | Scuderia Ferrari Mission Winnow | + 83.545s |
| 8 | Lando Norris | GBR | McLaren F1 Team | + 84.395s |
| 9 | Yuki Tsunoda | JPN | Scuderia AlphaTauri Honda | + 1 Lap |
| 10 | Sebastian Vettel | GER | Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One Team | + 1 Lap |
| 11 | Antonio Giovinazzi | ITA | Alfa Romeo Racing Orlen | + 1 Lap |
| 12 | Lance Stroll | CAN | Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One Team | + 1 Lap |
| 13 | Kimi Raikkonen | FIN | Alfa Romeo Racing Orlen | + 1 Lap |
| 14 | George Russell | GBR | Williams Racing | + 1 Lap |
| 15 | Nicholas Latifi | CAN | Williams Racing | + 1 Lap |
| 16 | Mick Schumacher | GER | Uralkali Haas F1 Team | + 2 Laps |
| 17 | Nikita Mazepin | RUS | Uralkali Haas F1 Team | + 2 Laps |
| DNF | Fernando Alonso | ESP | Alpine F1 Team | DNF |
| DNF | Esteban Ocon | FRA | Alpine F1 Team | DNF |
| DNF | Pierre Gasly | FRA | Scuderia AlphaTauri Honda | DNF |
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