World champion Max Verstappen won an emotional Constructors’ World Championship for Red Bull on Sunday as he claimed a record-equalling 13th win this year at the United States Grand Prix.
Twenty-four hours after the death of Red Bull founder and co-owner Dieter Mateschitz, the 25-year-old Dutchman claimed the 33rd victory of his career after an exciting late battle with seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes.
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In front of an enthusiastic crowd at the Circuit of the Americas, Verstappen came home 5.023 seconds behind Hamilton, with Charles Leclerc finishing third for Ferrari ahead of Sergio Pérez in the second Red Bull.
“Of course, it’s been a very difficult weekend for us and it’s certainly dedicated to Dietrich himself for what he has done for everyone,” Verstappen said.
“We had a great chance to win ‘Constructors’ here and of course you want to do it in style and I think we did that today.
“It certainly means a lot to me, to the team, because he (Dietrich) was very important to the whole team,” he said.
George Russell finished fifth in the second Mercedes ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris, two-time champion Alpine’s Fernando Alonso, four-time champion Aston Martin’s Sebastian Vettel, Haas’ Kevin Magnussen and Alfa Tauri’s Yuki Tsunoda.
“I gave it my all,” said Hamilton, who remains without a win this year for the first time in his career.
“I did everything to stay ahead, but they were a little quick… great strategy, great race by Red Bull – and my condolences to the team,” he said.
“I’m shattered. The car was a handful today. It felt amazing to be in the lead. It’s something we’ve worked so hard on as a team over the years.
“I had high hopes. We will keep pushing, we will try to give it everything we can in the next three. It will come to us at some stage.”
The race started in perfect conditions, but with a gloomy atmosphere prevailing in the paddock and pit lane following the death on Saturday of Red Bull founder Mateschitz.
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As a result, any announcement on Red Bull’s fate for their budget cap violations last year has been “withheld until further notice” with hopes of rising again next week.
A minute of applause in tribute to Metschitz preceded the pre-race anthem before the lights went out and Verstappen quickly seized the initiative as Carlos Sainz struggled to get off pole.
The lucky Spaniard was involved in a first-corner collision as a rising Russell bit him softly, causing him to fall to the back of the field and go into retirement with a water leak.
Verstappen led with some aplomb by 2.8 seconds from Hamilton, a chance to shine in front of huge crowds at a circuit where he won five times in nine trips.
The Briton switched to a set of new hard tires followed by the rest. By lap 15, it was Verstappen in front.
Three laps later, Valtteri Bottas lost control of the rear of his Alfa Romeo at Turn 19, causing a safety car intervention before racing resumed on Lap 22.
A major accident involving Stroll and Alonso led to the deployment of another safety car.
By lap 30, the ground had settled and Verstappen led Hamilton by 1.7 seconds.
– Hamilton led late –
Leclerc moved to second place when Hamilton pitched for the new ‘hards’ on lap 35, rejoining sixth. Hamilton’s ‘under-cut’ forced Verstappen to answer a lap later, but he had a slow stop, taking more than 11 seconds to pick up a set of ‘medium’ tyres.
Russell and Leclerc also stopped again as a frustrated Verstappen again joined in fifth until Leclerc was passed on lap 39.
It all left Vettel up until Hamilton dived into him at the start of lap 41 and took over with 15 laps remaining.
Hamilton struggled to keep alive his dream of a first win this year. By lap 49, however, Hamilton’s lead was down to 0.7. A pass was inevitable and it came on lap 50.
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