Red Bull's Max Verstappen celebrates on the podium after winning the United States Grand Prix with second placed Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton, third placed Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko.Red Bull's Max Verstappen celebrates on the podium after winning the United States Grand Prix with second placed Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton, third placed Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko.
Ferrari had needed to score 19 points more than Red Bull at the Texas track but Charles Leclerc was the Italian team’s sole finisher, fighting his way to third from 12th on the grid. “And thank you Dietrich Mateschitz for everything that you have done for us, for this team. These championships are for you,” he added.Verstappen seized the lead into the first corner and was in control when he made his second stop to switch from hard to medium tyres on the 36th of 56 scheduled laps.
He returned to the track in sixth place, jumped by Leclerc who had also pitted and with Hamilton effectively leading in fourth since the three ahead of the Briton had yet to pit.He set to reducing the gap with determination. He passed Leclerc with aplomb and hit the front again six laps from the finish, crossing the line 5.023 seconds clear of Hamilton.