Austin, Texas – It’s official: Max Verstappen owns the Circuit of the Americas. The Dutchman delivered another masterclass on Sunday, flying to victory at the 2025 United States Grand Prix, completing a perfect weekend sweep after securing pole and the Sprint win.
Under the blazing Texas sun, Verstappen’s control was absolute — his Red Bull RB21 carving through COTA’s sweeping corners like a heat-seeking missile. He finished comfortably ahead of Lando Norris, while Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc completed the podium fight after a fierce mid-race duel.
Lightning Start, Classic Max
The lights went out and Verstappen immediately stamped his authority. While Norris and Leclerc scrapped for position behind him, the Red Bull driver broke free — opening a six-second lead within the first 15 laps.
Behind the Dutchman, the action was chaotic. Leclerc defended like a lion against Norris, but McLaren’s young Briton eventually muscled past the Ferrari with a daring move down the long back straight on Lap 51.
“The car was on rails,” Verstappen radioed after the race. “We had some tire drop-off mid-race, but once I got the balance right, it was full control.”
The Midfield Mayhem
Further back, the midfield was a battlefield. Rookie Franco Colapinto fought bravely in his Alpine, fending off attacks from Esteban Ocon, Lance Stroll, and Andrea Kimi Antonelli before slipping to 18th.
A clash between Carlos Sainz (Aston Martin) and Antonelli (Mercedes) triggered a Virtual Safety Car on Lap 7, briefly bunching up the field. Both drivers limped back with damage, but Verstappen’s lead was never in danger.
Meanwhile, Nico Hülkenberg and Isack Hadjar treated fans to a feisty fight for points — the Racing Bulls rookie eventually getting the upper hand over Alpine’s Pierre Gasly in the closing laps.
Pit Strategy and Precision
With tire degradation hitting hard, most teams abandoned hard compounds early, switching to a medium-soft strategy. Red Bull’s flawless pit execution kept Verstappen unchallenged, while Norris’s stop on Lap 33 dropped him temporarily behind Leclerc — only for the McLaren to roar back with fresher tires.
Leclerc, meanwhile, emerged as the fans’ favorite for sheer grit. Despite heavy tire wear, he held off Norris lap after lap before finally yielding to the relentless orange rocket.
Final Push: Verstappen in Cruise Control
As the laps ticked down, Verstappen radioed minor complaints about tire wear — but even a “struggling” Verstappen was unstoppable. By Lap 47, he was managing the gap with precision, still 6.5 seconds clear of Leclerc and unthreatened by Norris’s late charge.
When the checkered flag fell, the Red Bull pit wall erupted. Verstappen crossed the line with a comfortable margin, cementing his 12th victory of the 2025 season and extending his championship lead once again.
Race Results: 2025 United States Grand Prix – COTA
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – 56 laps
- Lando Norris (McLaren) +6.8s
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) +9.1s
The Bigger Picture
With another emphatic win, Verstappen’s reign shows no sign of slowing. McLaren’s double top-five finish proves their car has the pace to challenge, but when Max is in this kind of form, there’s only one story: domination.
The battle now shifts to Mexico — another of Verstappen’s favorite hunting grounds. The rest of the grid has one week to find answers.
Spoiler alert: they probably won’t.
