Max Verstappen fended off George Russell to win the United States Grand Prix sprint, after the two McLaren drivers of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris crashed out during a hectic first lap.
Norris, who struggled off the line, kept Piastri at bay going into the first corner. But as the championship leader set up the switchback move, he got collected by Nico Hulkenberg, who was duelling with Fernando Alonso.
Piastri's now damaged McLaren impacted the rear of his teammate's car and both Papaya cars were out on the spot, along with Alonso.
Following the resulting safety car, George Russell followed in Max Verstappen's tracks and even chanced an overtake to the inside of turn 12, at the end of the long DRS straight, but both drivers ran wide and maintained position.
📲 Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
Sprint Result:
1. Max Verstappen
2. George Russell
3. Carlos Sainz
4. Lewis Hamilton
5. Charles Leclerc
6. Alex Albon
7. Yuki Tsunoda
8. Kimi Antonelli
9. Liam Lawson
10. Pierre Gasly
11. Gabriel Bortoleto
12. Isack Hadjar
13. Nico Hulkenberg
14. Franco Colapinto
15. Oliver Bearman
DNF: Lance Stroll
DNF: Esteban Ocon
DNF: Oscar Piastri
DNF: Fernando Alonso
DNF: Lando Norris
LAP 1/19
— Formula 1 (@F1) October 18, 2025
What a DRAMATIC start to this Sprint, with a first corner collision between the top-two in the championship! 😱#F1Sprint #USGP pic.twitter.com/eVRnFjzFuZ
Carlos Sainz was thrusted into third place, as a result of the first lap carnage, and remained there throughout, scoring his second top three result in the last three races.
He held off the pair of Ferrari drivers. Charles Leclerc passed Lewis Hamilton on the first lap, but made an error through the high-speed snake section, which gave rise to a gutsy Hamilton pass down the long back straight.
Elsewhere, Oliver Bearman had initially finished in P8 for Haas, but was relegated to last place following a 10-second time penalty after the stewards deemed that he protected his initial position of eighth, from Kimi Antonelli, by running off the track.
The penalty was worsened by the fact that the sprint ended behind the safety car, after Lance Stroll ambitiously attempted an overtake on Esteban Ocon, at the first corner. Both drivers were eliminated in the resulting contact.
The result means that Max Verstappen has cut his deficit to just 55 points to leader Oscar Piastri, having been over 100 behind after the Dutch Grand Prix, in August.
Formula 1 news & related links
Lewis Hamilton hopeful of Ferrari turnaround at US Grand Prix
Max Verstappen says there's a 50-50 chance he'll win the 2025 title
Lando Norris to face "repercussions" after Piastri contact in Singapore