Max Verstappen has won the US Grand Prix, as he equalled a record held by Michael Schumacher and Red Bull claimed another title.
Max Verstappen has done it again, overcoming a nightmare pit stop to win the United States Grand Prix on Monday morning (AEDT).
Verstappen started second on the grid but took the lead immediately after George Russell bumped into Carlos Sainz, ending the Ferrari's race on the opening corner.
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It then looked as if the Dutchman would cruise to victory, but he was made to do it the hard way after an agonising 11-second pit stop midway through the race gifted the lead to Lewis Hamilton.
Verstappen sarcastically described the pit stop blunder over team radio as "beautiful, f***ing beautiful".
But he soon Verstappen passed Charles Leclerc after a back-and forth battle and far too much straight line speed for Hamilton's Mercedes, overtaking the seven-time world champion with around five laps to go.
He had already wrapped up the drivers' championship in Japan, but Verstappen's victory in Texas means he joins Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel as the only drivers to win 13 races in a season. There are still three races to go, so Verstappen could claim that record for his own.
Sergio Perez's fourth place finish was enough for Red Bull to also claim the constructors' championship for the first time since 2014.
Earlier, Lance Stroll was slammed for unfairly blocking Fernando Alonso from overtaking him on the back straight and causing a dangerous crash, sending Alonso's Alpine airborne.
Australia's Daniel Ricciardo struggled at the back of the field all race long and finished 16th, beating only Nicholas Latifi out of the drivers who complete the race.
US Grand Prix results (top 10)
1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
2. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
3. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
4. Sergio Perez (Red Bull)
5. George Russell (Mercedes)
6. Lando Norris (McLaren)
7. Fernando Alonso (Alpine)
8. Sebastian Vettel (Alpine)
9. Kevin Magnussen (Haas)
10. Yuki Tsunoda
Max Verstappen has taken back the lead and is on track for victory at the US Grand Prix.
The Dutchman passed Charles Leclerc and then his Red Bull had far too much straight line speed for Lewis Hamilton's Mercedes, overtaking the seven-time world champion with around five laps to go.
Another race, another victory for Verstappen – his 13th of the season.
We have a race on our hands.
After Carlos Sainz's incident on the opening lap it looked as if Max Verstappen would cruise to victory.
But Red Bull's crew had an issue changing his front left tyre, resulting in a slow 11-second pit stop that had Verstappen fuming.
A very slow stop for Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc is able to slip ahead of him.
— Daniel Moxon (@dmoxon_) October 23, 2022
"Beautiful, f***ing beautiful," says the Dutchman, with no small amount of sarcasm. #F1 #USGP
That rare mistake from Red Bull gifted Lewis Hamilton the provisional lead of the race.
Verstappen and Charles Leclerc are in a tight back-and-forth battle behind him.
Sebastian Vettel is currently in second but still needs to take a second pit stop.
Lance Stroll's race is over after he caused a dangerous crash with Fernando Alonso midway through the Grand Prix.
Alonso was looking to overtake Stroll on the back straight but Stroll moved his Aston Martin across at the last minute, unfairly blocking Alonso and sending his Alpine airborne.
Idiotic from Stroll. Utterly stupid.
— Will Buxton (@wbuxtonofficial) October 23, 2022
Ridiculous from Stroll moving on the straight like that. Huge accident #F1 #USGP
— Chris Medland (@ChrisMedlandF1) October 23, 2022
These late changes of direction on the Straight are going to kill someone… @fia time to sort this behaviour out once and for all. It has bled down to the junior formula too.
— Dario Franchitti (@dariofranchitti) October 23, 2022
That's a massive incident between Stroll and Alonso #F1 #USGP
— Tim Hauraney (@timhauraney) October 23, 2022
Oh my massive crash!
— Nick DeGroot (@ndegroot89) October 23, 2022
Alonso and Stroll.#USGP 🇺🇸 #F1
Ironically, Stroll sustained more damage to his car and forced to retire from the race, while Alonso was somehow able to continue and was still managing overtakes.
Carlos Sainz started the US Grand Prix on pole position but his race was over in brutal fashion before the end of the first lap.
Max Verstappen had gone ahead of Sainz on the start but Mercedes' George Russell bumped hard into the side of Sainz's Ferrari as they were turning the opening corner.
He was immediately brought into the garage and his race was done, continuing a run of horror luck with his sixth DNF for the year.
Lewis Hamilton is in second and George Russell now in third, while Daniel Ricciardo is in 13th in the early stages.
Sky Sports commentator David Croft said: "That is absolute heartbreak for Carlos Sainz, who has been pushed into the garage. It was his race for the taking from pole and it lasted about one corner.
"For the second race running, by the end of the first lap Carlos Sainz is absolutely out of it. That is heartbreaking for him."
Russell was given a five-second time penalty for the incident.
Ted Kravitz added: "That was a bit of a T-bone into the Ferrari from George Russell and it damaged the radiator. So there was a water leak caused by the contact."
1. Carlos Sainz
2. Max Verstappen
3. Lewis Hamilton
4. George Russell
5. Lance Stroll
6. Lando Norris
7. Valtteri Bottas
8. Alex Albon
9. Sergio Perez
10. Sebastian Vettel
11. Gasly
12. Leclerc
13. Magnussen
14. Alonso
15. Ricciardo
16. Schumacher
17. Latifi
18. Zhou
19. Tsunoda
Pit lane – Ocon
Daniel Ricciardo says there is no deal in place – yet – to take up a reserve driver role next season, despite Sky Sports F1 reporting yesterday the Australian had secured a backup role with Red Bull for 2023.
Ricciardo told media at the US Grand Prix “I don’t (have a deal in place)” in response to the Sky Sports reporter Ted Kravitz’s on-air revelation he would rejoin Red Bull.
“So, for now, everything’s just rumours,” Ricciardo said.
“Am I talking (to teams)? Yes. But there’s (been) no pen on paper or anything like that yet.”
Esteban Ocon took to Twitter just one hour before the start of the race to lament his late penalty.
The Alpine driver took a penalty after the team went with a new internal combustion engine.
Ocon posted on Twitter: "Pit lane start for me today. Wasn’t our day yesterday but you know we’ll be fighting to get into the points. Will need your support! Have a good race y’all."
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