Max Verstappen has dramatically closed the gap to championship leader Oscar Piastri after delivering a dominant performance at the United States Grand Prix. The Red Bull driver entered the Circuit of the Americas 55 points behind his McLaren rival but leaves Texas having reduced the deficit to just 40 points with five races remaining.
Verstappen seized control from pole position and was never challenged throughout the 56-lap race, securing his fifth victory of the 2025 season. The win proved particularly valuable as Piastri, who retired from Saturday's Sprint race, could only manage a distant fifth place finish.
The championship battle now sees Piastri maintaining his lead with 346 points, while Verstappen's victory brings his total to 306 points. McLaren's Lando Norris strengthened his own title aspirations by finishing second after a fierce battle with Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, moving to 332 points with 141 still available this season.
Ferrari enjoyed one of their strongest outings of the season with Leclerc taking third and Lewis Hamilton fourth, delivering a valuable 37-point haul for the Scuderia. This performance proved crucial in the constructors' championship where Ferrari has closed to within just seven points of Mercedes, who managed only eight points from the Austin weekend.
The result sets up a thrilling conclusion to the season with three drivers still mathematically in contention for the title. Verstappen's resurgence comes at a critical moment, putting pressure on the McLaren duo with races in Mexico, Brazil, Qatar, Abu Dhabi, and a new Las Vegas event still to come.
In the midfield, Williams continues to hold fifth in the constructors' championship with Carlos Sainz and Alexander Albon adding to their points tally. The Racing Bulls team maintains sixth position despite both drivers finishing outside the points in Austin.
The championship now moves to Mexico City in two weeks' time, where Verstappen will look to continue his momentum while Piastri and Norris attempt to reassert McLaren's dominance in what has become a three-way fight for the 2025 title.
Source: racingnews365.com