Verstappen earns easy US Grand Prix sprint win and pole position on another rough day for McLaren

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Red Bull’s Max Verstappen cruised to an easy victory Saturday in a crash-filled United States Grand Prix sprint race, and then took pole position for the main event on a rough day for Formula 1 championship leader Oscar Piastri.

Piastri and Lando Norris, who are 1-2 in the title chase, crashed out on the first lap of the sprint race. After mechanics worked furiously to get their cars back together, Norris recovered to finish second to Verstappen in qualifying for Sunday’s grand prix, but Piastri was a distant sixth.

The results of a scorching day at the Circuit of the Americas meant Piastri maintained his 22-point lead over his teammate in the title chase but could not extend it. And the McLaren mishap created a huge opportunity for Verstappen, who is now within 55 points of the lead with six grand prix and two sprint races left on the season.

Verstappen is within 33 points of Norris for second place.

“For us, a very strong result,” Verstappen said.

The Dutchman is bringing the pressure

Verstappen is a four-time champion chasing the rarified air of a fifth. Piastri and Norris are both trying to win their first championship.

Verstappen is racing with a fury that has the paddock buzzing.

He has won two of the last three races while McLaren has gone winless in that span. After an early-season slump that allowed the McLarens to pull away in the championship early, Red Bull’s resurgence has raised the temperature on the title chase.

It will only go up if he wins again Sunday and McLaren can’t minimize the damage.

“They’ve been very quick in recent races, Max and Red Bull,” Norris said. “I think most places we go now, we think Red Bull will be our biggest competitor.”

Verstappen won three in a row in Austin from 2021-2023 and has several career wins in Mexico City, where the series heads next.

McLaren’s miserable sprint race

Verstappen started the sprint from pole with Norris second and Piastri third as the cars charged uphill into the sharp left turn of the first corner. With several cars bunched in traffic, Piastri cut into Kick Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg, and their bump sent Piastri crashing into Norris.

Norris’ car spun and a rear wheel was knocked off. Piastri’s car also bounced and suffered suspension damage. Race officials did not penalize any of the drivers involved.

“Neither of our drivers to blame there,” McLaren boss Zak Brown told Sky F1. “Some amateur hour driving. Some drivers up there at the front whacked our two guys.”

It was the second straight race with contact between the two McLarens. They nearly crashed in Singapore when Norris bumped tires with Piastri on the opening lap.

Norris said he just wants to get through the first corner Sunday without incident.

“Don’t get hit,” Norris said. “I’m happy with P2. It could have been worse. There’s no chance we could have gone pole today.”

Piastri’s fading form

While Norris managed to scrap back into the front row for Sunday’s start, Piastri struggled to find any pace in qualifying. The Australian has just one podium finish in the last three races as his championship lead shrinks.

Verstappen and Norris could take another sizeable bite on Sunday. Norris suggested Verstappen may be too fast to beat in the race, but reeling in his teammate and championship leader is the bigger goal.

The crash in the sprint left Sunday as a great unknown, Norris said.

“We’ve not done more than three laps in a row and,” Norris said. “I have no idea if it will be amazing (or) terrible. We were hoping to learn a lot today.”

Ferrari continues to back Vasseur

Ferrari Chairman John Elkann issued a statement Saturday saying he has “full confidence” in team principal Fred Vasseur amid persistent speculation that former Red Bull racing boss Christian Horner could take his job.

“I also want to reaffirm the importance of teamwork by everyone to maintain focus on the only goal that matters: always giving our very best on the track,” Elkann said.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc will start from third Sunday, but the team is winless this season. It hasn’t won a driver championship since 2007 or a constructor’s title since 2008. Still, Ferrari awarded Vasseur a multi-year contract extension in July.

Horner, who led Red Bull to eight driver championships and six team titles in 20 years, was fired by Red Bull in July.

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AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing