Defending three time World Champion Max Verstappen has closed the gap in the drivers’ championship as championship leader Oscar Piastri with victory in Texas.

Piastri, who has been experiencing uncharacteristic struggles of late, once again failed to extract the best performance from his McLaren.

Qualifying sixth and finishing fifth, coupled with a lap one incident in the sprint race, meant the Australian lost 23 points to the chasing Red Bull of Verstappen across the weekend, who now sits 40 points behind.

Piastri insists the pressure of the title fight isn’t affecting his recent results, as he said: “The pressure has been there the whole year. This weekend, I didn’t feel like I made any mistakes. It just wasn’t very fast.”

As for the Dutchman, his scintillating form has thrust him directly into the championship fight.

By claiming maximum points at the three of the last four race weekends, he has clawed more than 50 points back in the tussle for the championship. 

He was untouchable this weekend, qualifying on pole for both the Sprint Race and Grand Prix, he led from the start, controlling the pace without ever looking like he was pushing his Red Bull to the limits. 

A championship challenge seemed scarcely believable a month ago, but now even the four-time champion, senses his opportunity. 

“For sure, the chance is there,” Verstappen said.

“We just need to try and deliver these kinds of weekends to the end. We will try. It is exciting.” 

Finishing behind Verstappen was fellow title hopeful Lando Norris, who fought hard to reclaim second place, after a race-long battle with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.

Norris, like Piastri, was involved in the turn one chaos in the sprint race, making Sunday’s result crucial for his championship aspirations.

Starting second, he lost one place to Leclerc, who started on the soft tyres compared to the McLaren’s mediums.

Despite consistent pressure, Norris was unable to pass the Ferrari, until a tyre advantage late in the race meant the move was finally possible, albeit too late to chase down Verstappen’s Red Bull. 

The Briton remained upbeat after the race, as he said: “It was a good battle with Charles, he fought hard. It was tough. We did everything we could.”

“Charles drove a very good race; it was good fun. So, I had to take second, not a lot more we could have done today.” 

For Ferrari, it was a strong result in the constructors’ championship, scoring 30 points, as their rivals for second place faltered. 

Singapore’s winner George Russell could only manage a sixth place, while rookie teammate Kimi Antonelli was involved in an incident with Williams’ Carlos Sainz, which saw the Spaniard retire on the spot. 

Antonelli recovered to P13 by the chequered flag, with Sainz handed a five-place grid penalty in Mexico for his clash with the Italian. 

This weekend leaves Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull separated by only 10 points in the standings, with Verstappen scoring 306 of Red Bull’s 331 points.

Behind Russell in seventh was the Red Bull of Yuki Tsunoda, followed by Nico Hülkenberg and Oliver Bearman.

Tsunoda and Bearman clashed at the turn 15/16 complex, when a late defensive move under braking by the Red Bull driver, forced Bearman onto the grass, causing him to spin to a stop.

The Haas driver’s frustration was clear after the race.

“For me what he did was unfair,” said Bearman.

“I felt what he did was against he rules and against the spirit of the regulations and what we race to.”

“Moving in reaction is something that we can’t do at these speeds with these cars. It’s dangerous.” 

Rounding out the top 10 was the Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso, who also came to blows in the sprint race. 

“Everything always happens to us,” said Alonso.

“I’m laughing at it now. I went on the inside, saw that I was touching a car, and we got a puncture. With three wheels, I couldn’t’ go back [to the pits].”

It’s only a week until the next race, the Mexico City Grand Prix from the 24-26 October, and the resumption of what is now, a tight, three-ways fight for the drivers’ championship. 

United States Grand Prix Race Results

1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing), 1:34:00.161.

2. Lando Norris (McLaren), +7.959s

3. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), +15.373s

4. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari), +28.536s

5. Oscar Piastri (McLaren), +29.678s

6. George Russell (Mercedes), +33.456s

7. Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull Racing), +52.714s

8. Nico Hülkenberg (Kick Sauber), +57.249s

9. Oliver Bearman (Haas F1 Team), +64.722s

10. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin), +70.001s 

11. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls), +73.209s 

12. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin), +74.778s 

13. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes), +75.746s 

14. Alex Albon (Williams), +80.000s

15. Esteban Ocon (Haas F1 Team), +83.043s

16. Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls), +92.807s 

17. Franco Colapinto (Alpine), + 1 lap 

18. Gabriel Bortoleto (Kick Sauber), + 1 lap

19. Pierre Gasly (Alpine), + 1 lap 

20. Carlos Sainz (Williams), DNF