Sprint Shock in Austin:Verstappen Wins, McLaren Out
The Saturday sprint in Austin became one of the key moments in the closing stages of the 2025 Formula 1 season. The main title contenders Oscar Piastri, Max Verstappen, and Lando Norris once again went head-to-head, with Red Bull and McLaren drivers battling to gain points on the championship leader.
From the front row, Verstappen and Norris led the field, followed by Piastri and Hulkenberg. On the opening lap, contact between the drivers saw Piastri clip both rivals, forcing both McLaren drivers to retire. Russell moved up to second, Sainz to third. Alonso later retired as well, while Hulkenberg dropped to the back of the pack.
On lap 16, the safety car was deployed following a collision between Stroll and Ocon. At that point, the top ten were:Verstappen, Russell,Sainz,Leclerc,Hamilton,Albon, Tsunoda,Bearman,Gasly,and Antonelli.
After the restart, Verstappen held the lead despite pressure from Russell and went on to claim victory the 13th sprint win of his career. The race ended under yellow flags. Oliver Bearman received a 10-second penalty for exceeding track limits, while Verstappen set the fastest lap with a time of 1:36.527.
In just a few hours, drivers will return to the track for qualifying ahead of the main race.
