Max Verstappen claims Sprint win at US Grand Prix as McLarens crash
18th October 2025Red Bull’s Max Verstappen has taken the Sprint win at the United States Grand Prix, after both McLarens collided and crashed out of the race.
Feature image credit: Getty Images // Red Bull Content Pool
Verstappen has claimed his 13th career sprint win at the Circuit of the Americas after first-lap drama in Austin, which saw the safety car deployed on lap one and later on in the race.
When the lights went out, Verstappen got the better start and left the second-placed McLaren of Lando Norris to contend with his teammate, Oscar Piastri, into the opening corners.
When the pack arrived in turn one, Norris edged out ahead of his teammate but Piastri looked to switch back on the exit. When the Australian turned behind Norris, he was quickly collected by Kick Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg, which launched Piastri into the air and into Norris.
Both McLarens retired on the circuit, immediately after, with Norris stopped on track at turn one – missing a tyre – whilst Piastri stopped further down, at turn nine, with suspension damage.
Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso was also involved in the first-lap melee and retired after the incident.
Following this, it left Verstappen to lead the race ahead of Mercedes’ George Russell and Williams’ Carlos Sainz, who both benefited from the skirmish on the opening lap.
Russell tried a lunge down into turn 12, on lap eight, to fight for the race lead but both Russell and Verstappen went off the track before the track order resumed, with Verstappen holding onto the lead.
The order ultimately finished with Verstappen edging ahead of Russell as Sainz completed the top three, ending behind the safety car.
The safety car was deployed for a second time after a late crash between Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll and Haas’ Esteban Ocon, at turn one, as the former dive-bombed Ocon up the hill and locked up.
It has been placed under investigation by race control and will be dealt with by the stewards between the sprint and qualifying.
Qualifying is next up which will take place at 4pm local time.
Read more Formula 1 here:
- Max Verstappen seals Sprint Pole at United States Grand Prix
- FIA confirms heat hazard at US Grand Prix
- Teams set to bring a new livery to USA Grand Prix
- Alpine to make Livery adjustment ahead of USA Grand Prix
- Mercedes go ‘into the unknown’ ahead of celebratory USA GP
- USA GP Preview: Oscar Piastri looks to bounce back as Verstappen and Norris tighten gap
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Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.
I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I’ve loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.
Kamron Kent
Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.
