After accumulating eight races without winning – since the Spanish GP in Montmeló, on June 23 -, in the worst drought since 2020, Max Verstappen found relief in the Austin Sprint, the fourth short race of the year, the fourth who wins (he has won 11 of the 16 that have been contested in F1).
The Dutchman, leaving from the polehe imposed himself with authority on Carlos Sainz and Lando Norris. A mini-triumph that allows him to add two more points than the Englishman and stop his climb. The McLaren driver had cut 32 points in the last six races, since Hungary. Now they are separated by 54, with six long races and two more short races ahead.
Brave and aggressive was the performance of Carlos Sainz, who rose from fifth to second position with a recital of daring and overtaking: he ate his teammate Leclerc, Russell and Norris on the last lap.
The exit
Verstappen maintained command from pole and Norris jumped from 4th to 2nd place with a great start
In Austin, in a 19-lap duel, Verstappen kept safe the privileged position of the pole at the start, in which Norris flew. The McLaren driver, who was not good in qualifying, retaliated with a majestic start. He suddenly overtook Leclerc’s Ferrari and Russell’s Mercedes on the inside, looking for the apex of the curve, and stuck to the Red Bull’s rear wing to prevent him from escaping.
The toughest and most spectacular fight was between the two Ferraris with Russell and between the two red cars, with Sainz poking his nose at Leclerc in the second lap, discussing the hierarchy of the Italian team. The Madrid native, with better pace, overtook the Monegasque on the fifth lap and pulled hard to get closer to Russell, who was approaching Norris and even attacked the McLaren (v. 6/19).
Sainz, on the attack
The Madrid native, after overtaking his teammate Leclerc, devoured Russell and went after Norris
The fight between the two Englishmen, intense, wheel to wheel, favored Verstappen, who took a breath and moved 2 seconds away from Norris’ papaya car.
Although, once he moved away from the Mercedes, the threat to the Englishman took a red form: Carlos Sainz, with a very high pace, soon devoured Russell (v. 9/19) and placed third, 2.5 seconds behind his friend Lando.
Sainz did not let up and was cutting ground. With five laps remaining, Norris was forced to pay more attention to the rearview mirror than to the rival in front of him. Verstappen was 2.2 seconds away from him and Sainz was only 1.2 seconds behind him, threatening his second position. With two laps remaining he was only 8 tenths behind the McLaren, with the DRS ready. Although the Madrid native also had Lecerc very close, just 6 tenths away, wanting to return it to him.
Sainz’s attack came at the beginning of the last lap. Norris blocked when braking uphill in Turn 1 when he saw the Ferrari latch onto him, and Carlos took second place. Leclerc also tried to overtake the McLaren, but was on the verge of losing the car and ended up in fourth place.
Fernando Alonso
The Asturian started 14th and finished 18th, complaining about Lawson
For his part, Fernando Alonso did not have a brilliant Sprint. He started very far away, 14th, fell to 16th at the start, and was later also overtaken by Lawson’s RB in a somewhat risky maneuver, and by Albon’s Williams, so that the Asturian finished in a sad 18th. th place, only ahead of the two Saubers.
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