After a difficult and emotional time for Red Bull, Max Verstappen’s victory at the United States Grand Prix was certainly the release he and his team needed. He duly delivered to seal the constructors’ championship and dedicate his victory to team founder and owner Dietrich Mateschitz, who died on Saturday. However, it wasn’t plain sailing and a timely reminder of how the challenge of second-placed Lewis Hamilton has slipped this year.
Verstappen, already champion this season, took the win he and the team craved in style indicative of how strong his car has been. Obviously, there was a very personal satisfaction in winning at the weekend when it was announced that Mateschitz had died at the age. 78. That he had to fight for it seemed to please Verstappen even more as he paid tribute to Mateschitz.
“I had to give everything and I went to the limit to come back. This win is definitely dedicated to Dietrich and what he’s done for everyone,” he said. “It definitely means a lot to me and the team, it was so important to the whole team and so instrumental.”
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner echoed his sentiments. “A very emotional moment, a great moment for the team and for everyone at Red Bull,” he said. “A tribute to Dietrich for everything he has done for the team, for the company.”
The result ensured Red Bull took their first constructors’ title since 2013 and ended Mercedes’ remarkable eight-in-a-row streak that began in 2014. A further morale boost after a weekend where the shadow of its breach of the 2021 budget cap has also hung. heavy On Saturday, Verstappen was mocked by “cheating” chants as he turned up at a fan event and Horner felt he needed to launch a furious retort to the accusations leveled against his team. Wrapping up the drivers’ and constructors’ titles in Austin will be just the answer they wanted, the team’s 15th win of the season in 19 races.
These are the numbers that reflect for Verstappen a season in which he has been absolutely dominant en route to his second title. He now shares a remarkable F1 record for most wins in a season with 13. It is a total matched only by Michael Schumacher in 2004 and Sebastian Vettel in 2013. Verstappen has achieved it with three races remaining this season and with this shape they can hope to overcome them.
However, after such tight control by the driver and Red Bull that has seen them almost untouchable so far, this one has come to a halt perhaps like no other this year. The Dutchman had been in control at the front only for his second pit stop to go disastrously wrong. A left-front wheel-gun problem cost him a maddening 11 seconds, putting him behind Hamilton in a 19-lap chase to the finish.
Max Verstappen has Lewis Hamilton company in the Lone Star State. Photograph: Clive Mason/Formula 1/Getty Images
Suddenly, the thrills, the tension of 2021 came alive again for the first time this season in Austin. Hamilton, with a lead of five seconds, pushed his car to the limit trying to stay in front as Verstappen moved inexorably behind him. He overtook Charles Leclerc who finished third and then chased down Hamilton. With faster tires and a faster car, the Dutchman had the advantage. Yet it remained deliciously tense – the pair’s history was palpable as they locked up.
With Verstappen in DRS range with seven laps to go, it looked like it was over, Hamilton was helpless but refused to roll over. They went through five corners only for Verstappen to retake the lead, but Hamilton had also enjoyed the scrap, his first real battle with his rival this year.
“We were so, so close,” he said. “I did my best to stay in front, but they were a bit too quick today. I’m gutted. The car was a handful. It felt amazing to be in the lead.”
Meanwhile, Verstappen and Red Bull celebrated with joy, just as they believed Mateschitz would have wanted. The furore of the budget cap forgotten for now after a fight that showed why they are leaving Austin as two-time world champion and F1’s current benchmark.
Sergio Pérez was fourth for Red Bull and George Russell fifth for Mercedes. Lando Norris was sixth for McLaren, Fernando Alonso seventh for Alpine, Sebastian Vettel eighth for Aston Martin, Kevin Magnussen ninth for Haas and Yuki Tsunoda 10th for AlphaTauri.