Austin, Oct 25 (US): If there had been a long time for Max Verstappen to back off in this exciting Formula 1 championship battle with Lewis Hamilton, it would have been Sunday in the closing laps of the US Grand Prix.
The young Dutchman seeking his first world championship was chased by the seven-time champion, and Hamilton was fast approaching the lead under the scorching Texas sun at the Circuit of the Americas, The Associated Press reports.
The intensity of the strongest championship race in years may have thrown a different driver off course – especially when Hamilton retired within a second on the last lap – but Verstappen thrived under pressure and won his eighth race of the season.
It was exciting, the pressure was going on, I didn’t know how fast Lewis could get you to you,” Verstappen said. “We managed to hold out in the end.”
The win doubled Verstappen’s lead over Hamilton to 12 points in the standings with five races remaining and could be a pivotal win in this classic championship battle.
Verstappen and Red Bull beat a track where Hamilton and Mercedes have been dominant for years – Hamilton is a five-time COTA winner – and make Verstappen run to victory.
Hamilton chased Verstappen for the last 18 laps and maybe if there was another lap he could have grabbed Verstappen and reclaimed the lead on points.
The 24-year-old now has some breathing room heading to Mexico City, a Red Bull stronghold.
Hamilton is seeking a record eighth Formula One title for the fifth time in a row.
“Congratulations to Max, he did a great job today. It was a very tough race,” Hamilton said. “I got a good start and gave it absolutely everything, but at the end of the day they had the upper hand this weekend.”
As the popularity of Formula 1 spread in the United States, the championship’s competitors came to a dramatic end in front of an estimated crowd of 140,000 people. It was one of the biggest sporting events since the start of the pandemic and attracted the rich and famous to the Austin circuit.
Celebrities in attendance included actor Ben Stiller, rapper Megan Thy Stallion, golfer Rory McIlroy and tennis champion Serena Williams, who all took part in the pre-race rally. Shaquille O’Neal hosted a DJ dance party after the race and handed the winner’s trophy to the podium, with the 7-foot party looming large over Verstappen and Hamilton.
Sunday was the last race in Circuit’s original 10-year contract, but the US Grand Prix is on the 2022 race calendar. Track chief Bobby Epstein said he expects to secure a new long-term deal from F1.
“It’s amazing to be here, but also to see so many (fans) around the track,” Verstappen said before taking the podium as the fans rushed onto the track to celebrate. “Hopefully we can do this for many years to come.”
Hamilton and Verstappen kept the temperature high throughout the weekend. First, Verstappen called Hamilton a “stupid idiot” and turned him around with his middle finger after a violent driving move in Friday’s training. Hamilton later dismissed it as “fun and games”. Verstappen then overtook him for pole position on the final lap of qualifying on Sunday.
It all set up a fierce battle for the top spot in Sunday’s first round because the COTA winner always comes from the front row. Hamilton jumped fast past Verstappen and the two traded the lead four times over 56 laps.
It was an exhilarating start as Verstappen and Hamilton have collided twice this season and the risk of another collision is high. This time Verstappen backed off from the first corner and allowed Hamilton to take the lead “to avoid any trouble”. That was the only moment of potential danger to either car of the day.
The drivers didn’t seem to have any hard feelings from the previous crashes when the race was over. When Hamilton clinched the championship here in 2015, he flung his hat to sulky teammate Nico Rosberg.
After learning on Sunday, Hamilton and Verstappen exchanged fist bumps in the pit lane, then jumped bottles of champagne on the podium.
However, Hamilton knows Sunday’s result was a lost victory on a favorable circuit as Verstappen fights to oust him in the championship.
And Hamilton admitted that Mexico City’s Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, where Verstappen won twice, is “a very strong track” for Red Bull. So is the next race in Sao Paulo, Brazil, where Verstappen won in 2019.
“It’s going to be tough,” Hamilton said.
Verstappen has had high expectations since he first joined the F1 grid when he was 17 in 2015. Hamilton, 36, has been the dominant figure in F1 for nearly a decade and has won four consecutive championships.
Hamilton’s last title would break his tie with Michael Schumacher for most of Formula 1. But he hasn’t had a fight like this in a long time.
Celebrating after the race, Verstappen quickly got back to all the work. He was unhappy with the title chase that turned out to be his favourite as he was holding on to Hamilton in the closing laps.
“That doesn’t really change much,” Verstappen said. “It’s all about the details. The win does not give me more confidence. We are all confident. We need to work out the details, starting with Mexico.”
Sergio Perez finished third to put both Red Bulls on the podium, but the Mexican raced without access to the water and described it as one of the most physical races he’s ever had.