Sprint race recap
Max Verstappen has taken another step towards an unlikely Formula 1 title defence after winning the United States Grand Prix sprint race, while his McLaren rivals retired after a multi-car clash at the start.
One race on from their contact in Singapore, which didn’t have sporting consequences but which Lando Norris was held responsible for, McLaren’s title protagonists tangled again on the opening lap of Austin’s 19-lap sprint.
Behind polesitter Verstappen, Norris held off Oscar Piastri on the inside of COTA’s steep Turn 1, with Piastri cutting back towards the inside.
At that very moment Sauber’s surprise fourth-place qualifier Nico Hulkenberg moved up the inside of Piastri, with the pair making contact as Hulkenberg was sandwiched between the Australian and Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso.
The contact flicked Piastri into team-mate Lando Norris, who was spun around as both McLaren’s suffered terminal damage. Alonso was also tagged by Hulkenberg and retired, while the Sauber man was forced to pit for a new front wing.
