Freshly-minted triple world champion Max Verstappen completed a hat-trick of Texan victories on Sunday when he claimed the 50th win of his career in a tense and strategic United States Grand Prix.
The 26-year-old Dutchman, who started sixth on the grid in his Red Bull car, worked his way through the field to take control before he came home 2.225 seconds ahead of resurgent seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes.
Verstappen, who won his third straight title last time out in the sprint at Qatar, said: “Starting from sixth position made things a little more difficult.
“Fifty wins is incredible and to do it here I am very proud. Now we keep on pushing for more.”
Lando Norris, in his 100th Grand Prix, finished third for McLaren, after a thrilling race in which he had out-started pole-sitter Charles Leclerc of Ferrari to lead, ahead of Carlos Sainz in the second Ferrari, Sergio Perez in the second Red Bull, and Leclerc.
It was Verstappen’s third consecutive victory at the Circuit of the Americas and brought him level with last season’s record tally of 15 wins.
His runaway lead in the drivers’ championship now stands at 228 points ahead of Perez.
