Max Verstappen secured victory in the sprint race at the US Grand Prix, delivering a commanding performance at the Circuit of the Americas for Red Bull. By finishing ahead of his title rival Lando Norris, who placed third, Verstappen extended his championship lead and showcased Red Bull's resurgence as the season nears its conclusion. Norris lost second place to Ferrari's Carlos Sainz on the final lap, costing him a crucial point, while Ferrari's Charles Leclerc finished fourth. Lewis Hamilton and George Russell secured fifth and sixth places for Mercedes.

Verstappen maintained his undefeated streak in the short-form races this season, leading from pole to flag in a comfortable drive at the Circuit of the Americas. Once the Dutchman took the lead from the start, he remained in control and unchallenged throughout the 19-lap sprint. Norris pursued him to the finish line but, with his tyres worn, could not prevent Sainz from snatching second place on the final lap.

This win marks the beginning of the six-race title showdown that will conclude the season, a crucial victory Verstappen needed. He has now extended his lead over Norris to 54 points, with 172 points still up for grabs. Although he only outscored Norris by two points, he prevented the British driver from closing the gap. Norris must now outscore Verstappen by nearly nine points per race, and with additional opportunities in sprint races, he views this as a missed chance.

Most significantly for Verstappen and Red Bull, this result suggests that the limited upgrades introduced for this race and the team's efforts over the past four weeks to address balance issues with their car have been successful. Verstappen and Red Bull have not won a race since Spain, and this is the first time he has demonstrated the confidence and control at the front of the field that he enjoyed in the first half of the season, when he won seven of the first ten races.

Verstappen maintained his lead through turn one, but Norris made an excellent start, moving up the inside and then around the outside of Russell into second place from fourth on the grid through turn two. By lap two of the 19, Verstappen and Norris had already established a gap, with the Dutchman looking to distance himself from his title rival but unable to shake off the McLaren.

The two Ferraris of Leclerc and Sainz were engaged in their own battle, swapping positions repeatedly over the opening laps in fourth and fifth, with Sainz taking the position on lap six. Meanwhile, Russell, charging in the Mercedes, caught up to Norris and, with DRS, pressured him closely. Norris, forced to defend, had dropped by two seconds from Verstappen but had been managing the wear on his rear tyres as the race approached halfway.

Sainz, displaying impressive pace, then passed Russell for third, and Leclerc followed suit a lap later, with Russell's tyres overheating after his attempt to overtake Norris. Norris was closing in on Verstappen, the gap narrowing, but the Dutchman responded and pulled ahead again, establishing a clear two-second lead by lap 15, enough to secure the win, while Norris was overtaken by Sainz at the last moment to claim second place.

Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hülkenberg finished seventh and eighth for Haas.

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