Always and only him. The formats, tracks and weather change, but in the end Max always wins Verstappen. The Dutchman also wins the Sprint of the US GP, ahead of Lewis' excellent Mercedes Hamilton and to Ferrari's Leclerc. Total domination by Verstappen who will however start in sixth position tomorrow, leaving room for the younger ones to put on a show.
Sprint GP USA: Verstappen doesn't take it
Despite starting in second place, Leclerc lost a position at the start to the detriment of Hamilton. Verstappen almost has it pushed off the track at the start, protecting himself against the Monegasque in a sublime way. This manoeuvre, however, cost the Ferrari driver second position, with Hamilton able to immediately enter turn 1. In terms of race pace, however, Ferrari doesn't seem to be doing too badly: although Austin does not represent the perfect track for the SF-23 in terms of characteristics, on the obverse la red it proved to be very fast. This factor allowed for almost half the race to Sainz to hold fourth position. The Spaniard however, evidently thinking about tomorrow, was the only rider on the grid to use the soft rubber, which completely abandoned him towards the end of the race. Is Norris and Perez they managed to overtake, forcing Sainz to finish the Sprint at sixth place in the standings.
Russell and Piastri: the two top players most in difficulty
Eighth place, which in reality should have been seventh, taken by Russell author of a Saturday absolutely to forget. If his teammate gets on the mini-podium, the Englishman was forced to start from eleventh position due to impeding Leclerc in the Sprint Shootout and received a 5 second penalty for overshooting Piastres off the track during the Sprint. The same Australian who finished in tenth position, with the contact with Sainz at the start of the race which he evidently has damaged his MCL60. Pierre's Alpine takes seventh place in the Sprint of the US GP, thanks to Russell's penalty gasly.
The race tomorrow
Thus ends the splendid Sprint Saturday. Important day in which the first indications on the pace of the various teams arrived, in view of the race scheduled tomorrow evening at 21.00 pm.
