Max Verstappen wins the US GP and extends lead over Lewis Hamilton | Other Sports | sports

Dutch Max Verstappen (Red Bull) won this Sunday in the United States Grand Prix and expanded his lead as leader of the Formula 1 World Cup against Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), who was second and Mexican Sergio Pérez (Red Bull) third.

Verstappen, who had departed in the pole position, withstood Hamilton’s final chase in a thrilling race at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas in which they took turns several times in the first position.

The Dutchman, who is chasing his first Formula 1 title, took his first win in Austin in front of some 140,000 spectators and extended his lead over Hamilton to 12 points with five races to go by the end of the season.

The Mexican Czech Pérez, meanwhile, added the 14th podium of his Formula 1 career and he climbed to the fourth position of the World Cup.

The Monegasque Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) finished fourth in Austin and the Australian Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren) fifth.

The Spanish Carlos Sainz Jr (Ferrari) finished in seventh place and his compatriot Fernando Alonso (Alpine) had to leave due to a mechanical problem on lap 52.

Hamilton, who was six points behind Verstappen, He counted on regaining the leadership of the World Cup in a circuit in which he has won five times since entering the calendar in 2012.

After the starting gun, Hamilton, second on the grid, took the lead of the race overtaking Verstappen, which briefly left the track.

Despite the blow, Verstappen stayed in Hamilton’s wake and, riding faster than his rival, regained first place in the change of tires of the Briton on lap 14.

Hamilton momentarily took first place but, after another stop, he was forced to a desperate comeback in the last laps that Verstappen managed to neutralize. (D)