Formula 1

US GP: Verstappen passes Hamilton to win after botched pit-stop

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Max Verstappen recovered from a botched second pit-stop to claim victory at the United States Grand Prix.

After taking the lead at the start, the Dutchman had led throughout the race at the Circuit of the Americas until a problematic final stop dropped him to third.

But Verstappen proved exactly why he is a two-time world champion as he passed Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton to secure a brilliant win. 

Race Review

A good start from Verstappen gave him the lead into Turn 1 as polesitter Carlos Sainz was spun around by George Russell, ending his race early.

Hamilton moved up to second as a result while Russell was given a five-second penalty for the Lap 1 contact.

A big mover in the early laps was Sergio Perez in the second Red Bull, as he recovered from ninth on the grid to run in the top four by Lap 7.

The first round of pit-stops came earlier than expected as tyre wear proved a big issue. Hamilton was the first of the leaders to pit but Verstappen was able to respond and continue comfortably ahead.

Despite a damaged front wing, Perez continued his progress by jumping Russell up to third, as the Briton served his five-second penalty for the Lap 1 incident with Sainz.

A spin for Valtteri Bottas at Turn 19 triggered a Safety Car, hugely benefitting Charles Leclerc who pitted and resumed in fourth.

At the restart, Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll collided on the back straight towards Turn 12 after the Canadian moved across when the Alpine attempted an overtake.

 

Despite going up on two wheels and tagging the barrier, the Spaniard was able to continue after a pit-stop for a new front wing.

It was another clean restart from Verstappen at the front ahead of Hamilton and Perez in third.

The Mexican though soon came under pressure from Leclerc, with the Monegasque producing a brilliant move up the inside into Turn 12 to move into the podium places.

Ahead, Hamilton pitted early again and inherited the lead after a disastrous stop for Verstappen due to wheel gun issues.

Leclerc also jumped the Dutchman up to second leading to a brilliant battle between the pair.

The Monegasque just repelled an attack into Turn 1, but the Red Bull was too fast on the straight to Turn 12 as the world champion reclaimed P2.

In the final pit-stops, Hamilton stayed on hard tyres, while Verstappen and Leclerc switched back onto the mediums, giving them the edge on performance.

Elsewhere, Vettel led a few laps and looked on course for a strong finish before a wheel gun issue at his pit-stop cost him 16 seconds, dropping the German outside the points.

But all eyes were at the front as Verstappen caught and passed Hamilton into Turn 12 to reclaim the lead he lost.

Once ahead, there was no turning back as the Dutchman eased to victory number 13 in 2022, equalling the record for most wins in a single season.

Hamilton had to settle for second as Leclerc claimed third for Ferrari. Perez was fourth as Red Bull wrapped up the Constructors' Championship for the first time since 2013.

Russell claimed the bonus point for the fastest lap on the final lap in fifth.

Lando Norris emerged to finish 'best of the rest' in sixth for McLaren, ahead of Alonso who put in a brilliant recovery to take seventh after his scary collision with Stroll.

Vettel also fought back into the points in eighth for Aston Martin after demoting Kevin Magnussen to ninth at the penultimate corner. 

Yuki Tsunoda completed the top 10 for AlphaTauri. Esteban Ocon was 11th, ahead of Zhou Guanyu and Pierre Gasly, who was hit with two five-second penalties during the race.

Mick Schumacher was 15th with Daniel Ricciardo and Nicholas Latifi the final two finishers.

Full results from an incredible US GP can be seen below:

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