Verstappen gamble sets up thrilling US GP finale

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Max Verstappen held disconnected Formula One rubric rival Lewis Hamilton implicit the last thrilling laps of the U.S. Grand Prix connected Sunday to triumph his eighth contention of the play and treble his pb successful the title standings.

Verstappen, who entered the Circuit of the Americas with a six-point pb implicit Hamilton successful the standings, present leads the seven-time champion by 12 points with 5 races remaining.

Hamilton successful his Mercedes was bearing down connected Verstappen implicit the last 18 laps and had chopped the Red Bull driver's pb to little than 1 2nd by the last lap. But helium couldn't marque the walk astatine the extremity and settled for second.

Verstappen, the 24-year-old Dutchman chasing his archetypal championship, present has immoderate breathing country heading into Mexico City, a high-altitude stronghold for Red Bull.

Hamilton, a five-time victor astatine COTA who couldn't drawback Verstappen successful the end, is seeking a grounds eighth F1 title.

Lewis Hamilton leads Max Verstappen astatine the US Grand Prix. (AP)

As the popularity of Formula One explodes successful the U.S., the title rivals delivered a melodramatic decorativeness nether a blazing Texas prima successful beforehand of an estimated assemblage of 140,000. It was 1 of the largest sporting events since the commencement of the pandemic and drew the affluent and celebrated to the Austin circuit.

Among the celebrities successful attendance were histrion Ben Stiller, rapper Meghan Thee Stallion, golfer Rory McIlroy and tennis champion Serena Williams, who each participated successful the pre-race grid walk. Shaquille O'Neal hosted a post-race DJ creation enactment and delivered the winner's trophy to the podium, wherever the 7-footer loomed ample implicit Verstappen and Hamilton.

Verstappen and Hamilton were locked successful a tense combat each weekend, archetypal erstwhile Verstappen called Hamilton a "stupid idiot" and flipped him the mediate digit during Friday practice. Then Verstappen edged Hamilton for rod presumption connected the last thigh of qualifying Sunday.

It acceptable up a fierce combat for the pb headed into the archetypal crook due to the fact that the victor astatine COTA has ever travel from the beforehand row. Hamilton rapidly jumped past Verstappen and the 2 traded the pb 4 times implicit 56 laps.

But Hamilton conscionable couldn't marque 1 much walk successful the end. It's a missed triumph astatine a circuit wherever Mercedes person been ascendant and Sunday's effect could beryllium pivotal if Verstappen hangs connected to dethrone Hamilton.

Verstappen has had precocious expectations since helium archetypal joined the F1 grid arsenic a 17-year-old successful 2015. Hamilton, astatine 36 a bid veteran, has been the ascendant fig successful F1 for a decennary and has won 4 consecutive championships.

One much Hamilton rubric volition interruption his necktie with Michael Schumacher for astir successful F1. But helium hasn't been successful a combat similar this successful a agelong time.

The U.S. Grand Prix was cancelled successful the 2020 due to the fact that of the coronavirus pandemic and returned with a flourish arsenic fans poured successful to ticker the F1's champion title duel successful years.

Verstappen gambled by stopping earlier than Hamilton for tyres, meaning the Mercedes had fresher rubber to equine a late-race challenge.

"A axenic head-to-head (battle)," said Martin Brundle connected Sky Sports.

"Max has travel retired connected top, we got to 2 altitude races next, Mexico and Brazil, wherever the Honda tends to beryllium strong.

"This is efficaciously a 14-point turnaround, Lewis could person gained seven, but it was Max who gained seven.

"I think, with 5 (races) to go, it's highly significant."

Australia's Daniel Ricciardo finished fifth.

-- Additional reporting by Brett Graham.

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