Max Verstappen came out on top in Formula One for the first time since June after Saturday's sprint victory at the United States Grand Prix. (More Motorsport News)
Thꦯe Red Bull driver claimed pole position for the 19-lap race in Austin, holding on throughout to increase his drivers' championship lead by two points over Lando Norris, who finished third.
That ended a nine-race wait for victory, across eight races and one sprint, as Verstappen led from start to finish, ensuring thꦇe momentum in the world championship battle swung firmly back in his favour.
Carlos Sainz ended second after Norris went too deep into Turn One on the final lap, though the McLaren 🍃driver fended off Char🌄les Leclerc – who finished fourth – after a near-miss between the pair.
George Russell started slow but recovered to take fifth, one spot ahead of Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton, while Haas pair Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg made up t🐠he top eight.
R♔ed Bull had struggled amid Verstappen's winless run, but will now take confidence into q🎉ualification later on Saturday before Sunday's main-event race as he looks to extend his 54-point lead over Norris.
"It feels a bit like old times! I'm very happy. If you look at the whole race, Ferrari was also very quic🎃k," a relieved Verstappen concluded.
Norris was subsequently confirmed to be under in💜vestigation after the race for "driving erratically" in his final-lap baಞttle with Leclerc.
Data Debrief: Red Bull redemption
With Verstappen's♔ eight-point haul in the sprint, Red Bull have now managed points in 62 consecutive events♓, equalling the third-best run in F1 history (also Mercedes, 62, on two separate occasions).
Verstappen's next c☂hallenge will now be to end his eight-race wait in Grand Prix action for victory, which is his worst such streak since going 11 races without 🃏a win in 2020.
Top 8
1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
2. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)
3. Lando Norris (McLaren)
4. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
5. George Russell (Mercedes)
6. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
7. Kevin Magnussen (Haas)
8. Nico Hulkenberg (Haas)
CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
Drivers'
1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) - 339
2. Lando Norris (McLaren) - 285
3. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) - 250
Constructors'
1. McLaren - 522
2. Red Bull - 483
3. Ferrari - 453
