Six races remain in the 2021 Formula One title hunt, and it is a mere six points that separate protagonists Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton as their titanic battle resumes at the US Grand Prix. Join The Roar for live race updates and rolling coverage from 6am (AEDT).
Returning to the technical 5.5km Circuit of the Americas in Texas, this is the first time since 2019 that Formula One has been able to race in North America; the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic having quashed any plans of that in 2020.
It is a race that has seen Hamilton flourish since becoming a calendar regular in 2012, having also won four consecutive races between 2014 and 2017. The most recent US Grand Prix in 2019 was won by his Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas, while Hamilton went on to clinch his sixth title.
Red Bull have also had a win in Austin; however, that was prior to the turbo-hybrid era. This will be something that they will hope to address however this time around, with both Verstappen and Sergio Perez on form through practice.
They have made plenty of noise however in the build-up to the weekend in regards to Mercedes’ straight-line speed advantage, despite the Silver Arrows supposedly struggling with engine reliability – which has led to Bottas taking another engine penalty.
Mercedes customers in Sebastian Vettel and George Russell have also seen complete power-unit changes and a trip to the rear of the grid. So indeed there are real concerns for the engine manufacturer.
Verstappen denied Hamilton pole position at the death, with Perez third quickest to ensure that Red Bull have both cars sandwiching the Mercedes in between. This ought to make the run into Turn 1 very intriguing.
Both Ferraris out-qualified the McLarens inside the top seven, which will make the race interesting as the pair continue to battle it out for third in the constructor’s championship.
The bumpy nature of track has also caused headaches across the weekend and meant that the Pirelli tyres have had greater wear. Expect a two-stop strategy en route to the chequered flag.
The objective for both Verstappen and Hamilton is clear for the remaining races: just finish ahead of each other and score more points. Who will stand tall after 56 laps in Texas?
Be sure to tune in on The Roar from 6am (AEDT) for live blog updates and all the key happenings of the United States Grand Prix.
Lights out: 6am (AEDT)
Venue: Circuit of the Americas, Austin, Texas
TV: Fox Sports
Online: Kayo Sports, Foxtel
Grid
1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull), 2. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), 3. Sergio Perez (Red Bull), 4. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), 5. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari), 6. Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren), 7. Lando Norris (McLaren), 8. Pierre Gasly (AlphaTauri), 9. Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes), 10. Yuki Tsunoda (AlphaTauri), 11. Esteban Ocon (Alpine), 12. Antonio Giovinazzi (Alfa Romeo), 13. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin), 14. Nicholas Latifi (Williams), 15. Kimi Räikkönen (Alfa Romeo), 16. Mick Schumacher (Haas), 17. Nikita Mazepin (Haas), 18. Sebastian Vettel (Aston Martin), 19. Fernando Alonso (Alpine), 20. George Russell (Williams)
Simoc
Guest
Mercedes outmaneuvered by Red Bull this time. It seemed all set for drama and then Verstappen went quicker at the end. Blew all the computer-generated models out of the cockpit. Hamilton was supposed to pass on the second to last lap. Strong drive by Ricciardo and Tsunado is starting to look the real deal. That was his first drive at the track. It's hard to see how the racing will be better next year. We will see.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Well that then wraps up this live blog of the US Grand Prix. Thank you again for joining me this morning and I look forward to return in a fortnight's time for the Mexican GP. Until then, have a good day!
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
-------- DRIVER'S -------- 287.5 - Max Verstappen 275.5 - Lewis Hamilton 185 - Valtteri Bottas 150 - Sergio Perez 149 - Lando Norris 128 - Charles Leclerc 122.5 - Carlos Sainz 105 - Daniel Ricciardo 74 -- Pierre Gasly 58 -- Fernando Alonso 46 -- Esteban Ocon 36 -- Sebastian Vettel 26 -- Lance Stroll 20 -- Yuki Tsunoda 16 -- George Russell 7 --- Nicholas Latifi 6 --- Kimi Räikkönen 1 --- Antonio Giovinazzi 0 --- Mick Schumacher 0 --- Robert Kubica 0 --- Nikita Mazepin
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
----- CONSTRUCTOR'S ----- 460.5 - Mercedes AMG 437.5 - Red Bull Racing Honda 254 - McLaren Mercedes 250.5 - Ferrari 104 - Alpine 94 -- Scuderia AlphaTauri 62 -- Aston Martin Racing 23 -- Williams Mercedes 7 --- Alfa Romeo Racing 0 --- Haas Ferrari
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
RACE REPORT An exhilarating conclusion to the United States Grand Prix saw Max Verstappen beat title rival Lewis Hamilton in Texas to double his lead in the championship. In a race that was going to be determined by tyre wear and strategy, the pole sitting Verstappen sought to undercut the Mercedes who had taken the lead of the race going into Turn 1 of the first lap. Starting on the medium tyres, Verstappen was in early on Lap 11 to trigger the undercut and made the switch to the hard compound. Hamilton pitted not long after, which saw the Red Bull retake the lead. Red Bull brought in Verstappen on Lap 30 for their second stop, which at the time was thought that it was too early. Hamilton and Mercedes were able to extend their middle stint to Lap 38 before their second stop. Verstappen retook the lead from Hamilton, but a battle was set up for the end of the race, with the Mercedes in pursuit. With two laps to go, Hamilton had closed the gap within 1.5 seconds, however the Dutchman held him at bay to secure the win. Completing the podium was Sergio Perez, who drove one of his best weekends for Red Bull and secured vital points for their battle in the constructor’s championship. He didn’t have the pace to rival the top two, but still drove an excellent race. Hardly seen as well was Charles Leclerc, who’s Ferrari had the better of the McLarens throughout the weekend and was without rival as best of the rest. While the leading McLaren of Daniel Ricciardo ended up in a fight at the end of the race with Carlos Sainz and Valtteri Bottas, managing to keep the Mercedes at bay. Lando Norris lost out to Bottas primarily due to a slow second pit-stop, but also the McLarens just did not have the pace to beat their competition on this particular occasion. A great outing for Yuki Tsunoda saw the rookie secure eighth, having battled early on with an out-of-grid position Bottas holding the Mercedes at bay. All while it was a dismal day for teammate Pierre Gasly, retiring with car problems. The final point then was taken up by Sebastian Vettel, who after starting from the rear of the grid snuck into the top ten after Kimi Räikkönen suffered a late spin.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
STANDBY FOR RACE REPORT & UPDATED STANDINGS
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
POST-RACE INTERVIEWS - Hosted by Jenson Button VERSTAPPEN - "We lost out in the start and we had to try do something else." "We went aggressive and I wasn't sure if it would work." "The last few laps were fun and I'm super happy we held on." HAMILTON - "Congratulations to Max. It was such a tough race and they had the upper hand this weekend." PEREZ - "Since Lap 4 I ran out of water." "I think my toughest race ever physically."
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
RESULTS FROM THE 56-LAP UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX: 1 M. Verstappen 2 L. Hamilton (Fastest Lap) 3 S. Perez 4 C. Leclerc 5 D. Ricciardo 6 V. Bottas 7 C. Sainz 8 L. Norris 9 Y. Tsunoda 10 S. Vettel 11 A. Giovinazzi 12 L. Stroll 13 K. Räikkönen 14 G. Russell 15 N. Latifi 16 M. Schumacher 17 N. Mazepin RET F. Alonso RET E. Ocon RET P. Gasly
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
MAX VERSTAPPEN WINS THE UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX! Lewis Hamilton's charge just falls short on the final lap and he'll have to settle for second place. And crucial points for Red Bull in the constructor's championship scored with Sergio Perez finishing on the podium again.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Lap 56/56: Verstappen got DRS off Schumacher to get that speed advantage down the pit-straight. No DRS for Hamilton down the back straight, so this could be it here. Bottas finally past Sainz for sixth too.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Lap 56/56: FINAL LAP
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Lap 55/56: The lapped car of Mick Schumacher is ahead of the leading duo now, so they'll be hoping that he jumps out of the way pretty briskly. Verstappen has stayed outside of DRS range of Hamilton going up the back straight. Schumacher finally gets out of the way just before the final corner.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Lap 54/56: Verstappen still keeping out of Hamilton's DRS range as there's only two laps remaining! Bottas as well can't quite get past the Ferrari of Sainz, even with DRS down the back straight.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Lap 53/56: Another personal best lap for Verstappen to keep that gap up at 1.7 seconds. Hamilton as well is charging his battery to try and give it the full beans. And Räikkönen is off into the gravel at Turn 6 and loses the opportunity for a point! Vettel up into tenth now.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Lap 52/56: Verstappen just fractionally increased his lead over Hamilton back out to 1.7 seconds. Meanwhile Bottas still holed up behind Sainz, with the damaged Ferrari doing an admirable job to keep the Mercedes at bay. This has helped Ricciardo scamper up the road a little.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Lap 51/56: Alonso pits from thirteenth for a fourth time and this will be a terminal stop. The rear wing he says is cracked, so the Texan bumps claim another scalp.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Lap 50/56: VER HAM PER LEC RIC SAI BOT NOR TSU RÄI GIO VET ALO STR RUS LAT MSC MAZ the shape of the field. Ocon and Gasly out of the race.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Lap 49/56: 8 laps is difference between Verstappen and Hamilton's tyres, which that early second stop from Red Bull may be the deciding factor in all this.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Lap 48/56: 2 seconds now.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Lap 47/56: It's 2.4 seconds now between Verstappen and Hamilton, as the laps tick down towards the end of the race. Seems inevitable now doesn't it?