AUSTIN, Texas — Four-time reigning Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen cruised to an easy victory Saturday in a crash-filled sprint race at the Circuit of the Americas, and then the Red Bull star took pole position for Sunday’s main event at the U.S. Grand Prix on a rough day for championship points leader Oscar Piastri.
Piastri and McLaren teammate 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 the GP race, but Piastri was a distant sixth.
The results of a scorching day at the track 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 GP events and two sprint races left this season.
Verstappen is within 33 points of Norris for second place.
“For us, a very strong result,” Verstappen said.