Max Verstappen fends off charging Lewis Hamilton to win US Grand Prix and extend title lead

They say everything is bigger in Texas; the steaks, the skies, the hats, the boots. To that list, Formula 1 can now be added too. What a weekend. What a race. After decades of casting about on this side of the pond, it feels as if the sport has truly established itself State-side now.

A crowd of 140,000 fans lapped up an absolutely stonking grand prix, a race which went down to the very final lap as Lewis Hamilton narrowly failed to pull off what would have been a sensational victory.

In a race that resembled a chess match, Red Bull responded to Hamilton’s superb start, which saw the seven-time world champion roar past pole-sitter and championship leader Max Verstappen at Turn 1, by adopting an “aggressive” undercut strategy, coming in much earlier than expected for the first of their two pit stops.

The strategy allowed Verstappen to reclaim the lead and a bit of clean air. But it also left the Dutchman vulnerable on wearing tyres after the second round of pit stops. Hamilton, on fresher tyres, hunted his rival down, his deficit tumbling with every lap. But he could not quite make the catch, finishing +1.333 seconds behind in the final reckoning.

Verstappen’s eighth win of the season saw the Dutchman extend his lead at the top of the drivers’ championship to 12 points with five races of the season remaining. And with the next two rounds in Mexico and Brazil expected to favour Red Bull, there are some who believe the championship is as good as over. Far from it.

This enthralling season has ebbed and flowed and defied expectations at every turn. And even if Red Bull do have the quicker car for the next few races, all it would take is one DNF for everything to turn on its head again.

Not that Hamilton looked or sounded particularly optimistic.

“The next two tracks are very strong for Red Bull so it’s going to be tough for sure,” he conceded. “But I’ve got to be happy with the job I did today. I gave it absolutely everything but at the end of the day they were quicker this weekend. ”

And what a weekend it was. There was a real sense in Texas of F1 as it was pre-covid, with huge crowds, and concerts, and traffic jams and a serious run on hotel rooms and hire cars in Austin.

After 18 months which has felt rather anaemic much of the time, it was a weekend which saw F1 get its buzz back. The paddock felt busier than it has in years, while the grid was positively heaving with celebs and hangers-on. Martin Brundle was spoiled for choice on his grid-walk with basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal, rapper Megan Thee Stallion and tennis superstar Serena Williams mingling with mechanics and drivers and FIA bigwigs.

But they were here for a reason. And after the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders and the Texas Longhorns marching band had finished doing their thing, and we had all enjoyed a rousing rendition of Star Spangled Banner, not to forget a flyby of Apache helicopters, it was time to race.

Hamilton got off to a flier, beating Verstappen off the line and holding his nerve as the Dutchman tried to squeeze him off track. But his lead did not last long, Verstappen diving into the pits after just eight laps. “It was a courageous move because it really was very early [to stop],” acknowledged Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff later of Red Bull’s undercut.

It worked brilliantly. By the time Hamilton came in three laps later, his one-second advantage had turned into a six-second deficit.

Mercedes did not panic. They knew that Red Bull’s gamble would afford them an opportunity later on. And by the time Verstappen came in for his second pit stop on lap 29, they were clearly feeling quite confident, Wolff even getting on the radio to inform Hamilton he was “racing for the win”. Hamilton came back with a succinct response. “Leave it to me, bro. Thanks.”

Hamilton eventually came in for his second stop on lap 37 of 56, emerging 8.5sec behind Verstappen. He had 20 laps in which to pass the Dutchman on his fresher set of hard tyres. But he could not quite manage it. The gap tumbled as Hamiton turned the timesheets purple. Six seconds, five seconds, four seconds.

With 10 laps to go, the gap was down to just 2.8sec and the Dutchman was on the radio, nervously asking his team for updates. “I wasn’t sure [our strategy] was going to work,” he later admitted.

But Verstappen is a worthy adversary and the heir apparent had managed to hold a little rubber back. When Hamilton got to within two seconds, Verstappen’s was able to hold the gap steady for a few vital laps, stalling the Englishman’s charge. “If Lewis had had two laps more, who knows?” Wolff mused.

Hamilton did at least bank a bonus point for the fastest lap of the race, limiting his losses to just six points.

A fabulous race, which also saw witnessed some lively duels further down the field, between the Ferraris and McLarens and even between a couple of old-timers in Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen, ended with O’Neal arriving to deliver the winner’s trophy in the Texas Longhorns' mega cadillac, a car which made even the 7ft1in basketball great look small. Big Tex delivered in some style.

United States Grand Prix, as it happened

09:13 PM

Great drive from the top two

In fact, a great drive from the top four. But Verstappen and Hamilton were in a different league. Perez drove well but was miles behind. Red Bull seemed to have the better car this weekend but Verstappen lost the lead at the start and then had to drive a bold race to get into a winning position. And then he had to hold on. And he did.

That's it from me today. I'll be back tomorrow with a bit more analysis from that race. It could be pivotal. It might not be, of course, but it could be.

09:05 PM

Christian Horner speaks to Sky Sports

The way he [Verstappen] managed that tyre through the last stint... it was about getting out of it [turn 11] at the end of the race. Lewis, you know the end of the race he's so strong. He's gone long, he's bought himself an advantage. To lose one here would have been really painful. Max just held on, he did a great job. He managed the race really smartly.

We had really good pace on the medium. I think our car on that tyre was better than theirs. We thought let's go for track position and we'll take track position and leave ourselves with a bit more to do.

08:52 PM

Updated constructor standings

Decent day for Red Bull with their 1-3 but they didn't make tons of ground on Mercedes.

08:51 PM

Verstappen reacts to his eighth win of the season

Of course we lost out in the start so we had to try and do something else. The tyre wear is quite high around this track. We did go aggressive and I was not sure it was going to work but the last few laps were fun. Super happy to hang on.

08:50 PM

Sergio Perez says he ran out of water after lap one

And that it was his toughest race physically. I'm not surprised. The Mexican fans are very receptive, though. Can't wait for Mexico in a couple of weeks.

08:49 PM

Lewis Hamilton reacts to a fighting second place

Congratulations to Max, he did a great job today. It was such a tough race. At the end of the day they just had the upper hand today. I think this is definitely our insistence into the US. What a place to be. I hope we get more races out there.

08:46 PM

Updated driver standings, top 12

Hamilton got the bonus point for fastest lap.

08:44 PM

US GRAND PRIX - CLASSIFICATION

1. VER
2. HAM
3. PER
4. LEC
5. RIC
6. BOT
7. SAI
8. NOR
9. TSU
10. VET
11. GIO
12. STR
13. RAI
14. RUS
15. LAT
16. MSC
17. MAZ

DNF: ALO, OCO, GAS

08:43 PM

Your podium

08:40 PM

MAX VERSTAPPEN WINS THE 2021 US GRAND PRIX!

HE HANGS ON BY A SECOND! Hamilton was charging throughout that final stint. Putting his rival under intense pressure. But it got a whole lot harder once Hamilton got into the dirty air of the Red Bull.

That is - or could be - a crucial victory for Verstappen with five races remaining. Big win. Big 25 points.

08:38 PM

FINAL LAP

ONE SECOND IN IT....

Can Hamilton get DRS on the back straight and hang on? The gap as they enter the middle sector is 1.000s...

But that drops back and out of DRS range heading onto the back straight...

Is that Hamilton's chance gone?!

08:38 PM

PENULTIMATE LAP

Has Hamilton got it? Verstappen stretches his lead in the middle sector to 1.7s... did Hamilton make a mistake.

Mick Schumacher is a backmarker that could come into play here. Will he jump out of the way? He needs to...

Verstappen urges the race director to get the Haas out of the way. Verstappen eventually gets through Schumacher but it puts Hamilton within DRS range. But Verstappen gets DRS on the back straight due to Schumacher...

08:36 PM

Lap 54 of 56 - Verstappen leads Hamilton

THREE LAPS TO GO.

Can Hamilton get close enough to even have one attempt?

The gap down to 1.1s as they enter the final few corners...

Will Hamilton get DRS on the penultimate lap? I'm not sure. The Red Bull has incredible traction and drive... but the Mercedes is very slippery on the straight.

As they cross the line it's 1.215s.

08:34 PM

Lap 53 of 56 - Hamilton struggling in the turbulent air behind the Red Bull

This is much more encouraging. Or is Hamilton saving his battery charge.

"The gap is up to 1.9," come on mate Hamilton is told. We haven't actually heard anything from Hamilton's radio this race. I think there was a problem with it. And that may explain why the message was a little odd. He knows what he's doing etc.

Hamilton takes four tenths out of Verstappen... 1.5s is the lead.

08:32 PM

Lap 52 of 56 - Top 10 and gaps

1. VER
2. HAM +1.885s
3. PER +34.889
4. LEC +41.828
5. RIC +67.769
6. SAI +69.894
7. BOT +70.910
8. NOR +74.218
9. TSU +1 lap
10. RAI +1 lap

Verstappen increases his lead a tenth again...

08:31 PM

Lap 51 of 56 - Verstappen leads Hamilton by 1.5s

This is going to be fun. They came close to touching on the first lap... might they do the same in the final few? Hamilton could lead the championship this evening. Or Verstappen could extend his lead.

Alonso retires with a rear wing problem.

Hamilton on this lap, now he gets in the dirty air, drops back a bit this lap. Only a couple of tenths but that could be crucial with just a handful of laps on the board.

08:29 PM

Lap 50 of 45 - Hamilton now within two seconds

1.9s to be precise. Seven laps to go including this one. Leclerc is chasing down Perez for third.He was four tenths quicker, pretty much, the last time around.

08:28 PM

Lap 49 of 56 - Interestingly, Perez is miles behind in third

I wonder if, say, Verstappen gets passed with two laps to go then he might come in to change to fresh tyres and get the fastest lap of the race to limit Hamilton's damage? Hamilton currently has the fastest lap point. It would at least limit the damage to just six points instead of seven. Scores would be level then.

Not sure anyone else apart from Leclerc has a big enough gap to try it.

08:26 PM

Lap 48 of 56 - Hamilton has eight laps fresher tyres

Which is giving him a pace advantage. Only 0.3s or so off though last time around and Verstappen just set his personal best.

08:24 PM

Lap 47 of 56 - Hamilton within 2.5s now

It is almost certain that Hamilton will catch Verstappen by the end of the race. Possibly even in the next four or five laps. But will he be able to pass? The Mercedes is good on the straight. Very good.

08:23 PM

Lap 46 of 56 - "Have enough rear tyres for the DRS zones"

That is the message to Verstappen. Hmmmm. I can't see him holding out here.

08:22 PM

Lap 45 of 56 - Top 10 and gaps

1. VER
2. HAM +3.416
3. PER +26.720
4. LEC +35.234
5. RIC +56.822
6. SAI +58.281
7. BOT +59.261
8. NOR +63.690
9. TSU +1 lap
10. RAI +1 lap

Verstappen set his fastest lap on lap 45... but Hamilton was still half a second quicker.

08:20 PM

Lap 44 of 56 - Verstappen has lost a lot of time to backmarkers

Whether he lacked the pace to get through them easily or whether they were less than pliable in terms of getting out of the way is debatable.

Hamilton now within four seconds. Only 0.4s out of Verstappen's the lead last time around. Hmmmm.

08:18 PM

Lap 43 of 56 - The equation now for Hamilton

Is 4.1s in the next 12 or so laps. That's only 0.3s or so per lap. Perez holding place in a distant third and Leclerc doing the same in fourth. Ricciardo now a whole pit stop behind in the McLaren.

08:17 PM

Lap 42 of 56 - Verstappen leads Hamilton by 6.1s

Ocon is told he needs to retire. Something at the back of the car. Bit of a miserable weekend for Alpine. Two French drivers out.

Hamilton is flying as Verstappen struggles to get through Yuki Tsunoda, the backmarker. He eventually does get through but now Hamilton is within five seconds of the lead...

Is Hamilton taking too much life out of his tyres? Maybe. Has Verstappen further damaged his by spending a lot of time in dirty air behind backmarkers? Maybe too.

08:15 PM

Lap 41 of 56 - Verstappen and Hamilton both set personal bests

Time to crank it up a bit at the front? The lead is under eight seconds now. Hamilton went quickest of anyone in sector three. And then in sector one of the next lap, half a second quicker than Verstappen in that sector alone as the Dutchman negotiates traffic. This could be crucial.

Hamilton takes another 0.6s out of him in the middle sector as he is about to do the fastest lap of the race. The gap is down to 6.3s. It's a new fastest lap for Hamilton. Nearly two seconds quicker than Verstappen...

08:12 PM

Lap 40 of 56 - Top 12

1. VER
2. HAM
3. PER
4. LEC
5. RIC
6. SAI
7. BOT
8. NOR
9. TSU
10. RAI
11. ALO
12. GIO

Hamilton actually dropping back a bit now as he tries to lap Vettel.

08:11 PM

Lap 39 of 56 - Hamilton told to bring the tyres in gently

So do not take the life out of them and hope that he can make, say 0.8-1s a lap towards the final seven or eight laps. Possible.

08:09 PM

Lap 38 of 56 - Quick stop for Hamilton, 2.4s

Verstappen comes out well ahead. How much time will Hamilton have to find? It's just under nine seconds in the next 19 laps. Hamilton has hard tyres that are eight laps fresher than Verstappen's. Can he reach him? Can he overtake him? It's about 0.5s he needs to find per lap on Verstappen to reach him by the end.

08:07 PM

Lap 37 of 56 - Hamilton leads Verstappen by 12.5s

He is told that Verstappen is six seconds within his window, which basically means that is the time he would have to find were he to stop now. Might be closer to seven seconds now. Verstappen took an entire second out of him last time. Hamilton has Vettel and Mazepin to lap ahead ... but will he even get to that point?

Out come the Mercedes mechanics... and in comes Hamilton...

08:06 PM

Lap 36 of 56 - Into the final 20 laps

Hamilton still out there. He's losing time to Verstappen and will come out behind him. He will put on fresh tyres (either mediums or hards, surely) and will then have to chase Verstappen down with a tyre advantage. At the moment the gap would be about eight seconds were he to stop. But it is coming down lap by lap.

Is the time he is losing now going to be made up for by that tyre advantage? It was 0.8s he lost to Verstappen last time.

08:03 PM

Lap 35 of 56 - Top six and gaps

1. HAM
2. VER +14.144
3. PER +36.746
4. LEC +47.375
5. BOT +51.110
6. RIC +63.267

08:03 PM

Lap 34 of 56 - This is fascinating

Hamilton is making his way around a clutch of backmarkers which should lose him a bit of time to Verstappen behind.

Hamilton sets a time of 1:41.465 and Verstappen is just over 0.3s quicker.

08:01 PM

Lap 33 of 56 - Perez with the fastest lap

As I said before he's dropped massively off the leaders so isn't really trying to do anything but finish third here and get the most points for Red Bull.

Verstappen was 0.4s quicker than Hamilton last time around and Hamilton leads by 15.8s.

07:59 PM

Lap 32 of 56 - Christian Horner speaks to Sky Sports F1

This race is all going to be about the last five laps. Let's see how it pans out. His [Verstappen's] pace was just starting to drop off and anything within three seconds the car behind has got a free undercut and we were trying to [stop] that option.

Could be tasty.

07:57 PM

Lap 31 of 56 - Current Top 10

1. HAM
2. VER
3. LEC
4. PER
5. BOT
6. RIC
7. NOR
8. SAI
9. TSU
10. RAI

It's changing up a little bit with the pit stops. Red Bull favouring track position for Verstappen (even though he is currently behind). Hamilton will likely come in and change to the medium tyres in perhaps another five or six laps.

07:56 PM

Lap 30 of 56 - Verstappen has to make his new medium tyres last 26 laps

Hamilton is immediately told "target plus six". That means it will all be about the tyre advantage for Hamilton. I think. Could be up for Hamilton to make the race his own at the end.

Bit of a slow stop for Sainz so Ricciardo is told he's coming in to cover. Perez also comes in for the medium tyres after letting Verstappen through. He won't be used to disrupt Hamilton here, then. Prioritising third place for the Mexican.

07:54 PM

Lap 29 of 56 - Leclerc driving a superb race

He's 14 seconds ahead of Ricciardo and is closing in on Perez, albeit slowly.

Verstappen leaps into the pits from the lead...

07:53 PM

Lap 28 of 56 - VIRTUAL SAFETY CAR

And I have no idea why. A bit of debris on the track and a marshal comes onto the circuit to retrieve it. It lasted just 15 seconds, really.

Looks like Verstappen has gained about 0.5s in that period. If Hamilton was brought in early to undercut then they could leave Perez out a little longer. That said, Perez is on medium tyres so should in theory need to stop first. He's only nine seconds ahead of Leclerc, so can't Red Bull can't try anything too clever.

07:50 PM

Lap 27 of 56 - Verstappen's lead is disappearing quickly

He's now just 2.8s ahead of Hamilton. The lapped runners are out of the way now. Cost him six or seven tenths, though. Hamilton now within undercut range and that is an issue for Red Bull. Perez is not within undercut range of Hamilton. Nowhere near it...

07:48 PM

Lap 26 of 56 - The race coming to Hamilton now

The gap down to 3.4s... took nearly a second out of him that last lap.

That said Verstappen was dealing with lapped runners. Doesn't always work out that the leader gets that time back as the backmarkers are more aware by the time the second-placed man comes around.

07:46 PM

Lap 25 of 56 - Top 10 and gaps

1. VER
2. HAM +4.214
3. PER +13.946
4. LEC +25.068
5. RIC +38.229
6. SAI +39.864
7. NOR +42.967
8. BOT +54.624
9. TSU +64.312
10. RAI +68.203

07:45 PM

Lap 24 of 56 - Hamilton now within five seconds of Verstappen

Interesting. Race back on? Not that it was ever off.

07:43 PM

Lap 23 of 56 - Verstappen leads by 5.4s

Just 0.005s between their lap times the last time around. Perez 0.6s off and dropping back quite dramatically now. Wonder if Perez might come into play a bit later in the race.

07:41 PM

Lap 22 of 56 - Hamilton has his work cut out here

Mercedes might have to try and keep him out, say, another few laps longer than Verstappen so that he gets a seven or eight lap tyre advantage rather than the three-lap one he has now, when it comes to the second stint.

07:39 PM

Lap 21 of 56 - Verstappen loses a bit of time lapping Mazepin

Six-tenths it cost him.

07:38 PM

Lap 20 of 56 - Full order

1. VER
2. HAM
3. PER
4. LEC
5. RIC
6. SAI
7. NOR
8. BOT
9. TSU
10. RAI
11. GIO
12. ALO
13. RUS
14. VET
15. STR
16. LAT
17. OCO
18. MSC
19. MAZ

OUT: GAS

07:38 PM

Lap 19 of 56 - Verstappen's lead stabilises at 6.3s

Perez is now 5.7s behind Hamilton in third. Nobody else in the same race as these three and it's arguable if Perez is in the same race as the front two. That said, he is on a different strategy and is very kind to his tyres usually. Not that he'll be allowed to win the race... but second is a possibility.

07:36 PM

Lap 19 of 56 - Bottas fighting his way through the field on fresh tyres

Bottas takes Stroll for ninth. Stroll has yet to stop and is the only driver who has not done so.

07:35 PM

Lap 18 of 56 - Christian Horner speaks to Sky Sports

It was a shame about the start but we had good pace on the medium tyres. We pulled the trigger early so we've got three laps more on these tyres but Max is doing a good job of managing. I think it was a good [start] from Lewis and an average one from us.

There's a long way to go. It's like a game of chess this race. There's not much between the teams.

07:34 PM

Lap 17 of 56 - The race for fourth is between the McLarens and Ferraris

Leclerc leading Ricciardo by over eight seconds but then Sainz and Norris are within six or seven seconds of the Australian.

07:33 PM

Lap 16 of 56 - Hamilton takes less than a tenth out of Verstappen

Perez, on the mediums, lost a couple of tenths to Hamilton on that lap.

Alonso and Raikkonen have a coming together at turn two with bits of carbon fibre flying everywhere. Alonso loses the place as he pushed the Finn out...

07:30 PM

Lap 15 of 56 - Hamilton is closing on the lead

But only a little, in truth. The gap is down to 6.4s. Bottas told to give it everything he has. He's in fifth and comes into the pits.

07:29 PM

Lap 14 of 56 - Updated top 10

1. VER
2. HAM +6.485
3. PER +11.077
4. LEC +20.247
5. BOT +23.949
6. RIC +26.586
7. SAI +29.436
8. NOR +32.820
9. VET +35.172
10. STR +37.668

Pierre Gasly has a rear suspension issue and is crawling around at the back now. That will be the end of his race.

07:28 PM

Lap 13 of 56 - Hamilton has to react, surely?

Verstappen took 1.6s out of him the last lap around.

Mercedes have to react and they do. Hamilton comes in but Verstappen takes the lead so, so comfortably as the Mercedes comes out of the pit lane. Verstappen has gained about seven seconds in that few laps. He now leads by 6.7s and will want to extend the lead.

Hamilton's tyres are only three laps younger.

07:25 PM

Lap 12 of 56 - Verstappen went quicker than anyone in the final sector

And he goes quicker than anyone in sector one as well. Hamilton's lead - were he to stop now - is gone.

Perez is coming in too. This could force Hamilton's hand. He goes onto the mediums but it's a slow-ish stop for the Mexican. 3.7s. They time in hand would have been useful. Especially if they want the double undercut.

07:23 PM

Lap 11 of 56 - I think Verstappen saw enough of the rear wing of the Mercedes

Verstappen has to negotiate the McLaren of Ricciardo on the back straight and does so with the aid of DRS. Wasn't comprehensive but Ricciardo didn't fight it too much.

Let's look at the lap times... Verstappen is 0.9s faster in the middle sector than Hamilton. Ooof. That's the undercut right there and Hamilton's lead gone if he were to stop now. Do they go long? I think they have to...

07:22 PM

Lap 10 of 56 - Hamilton cannot shake Verstappen

He's been within a second for the entirety of this race.

"Tyres are really hot and I don't think we're particularly quick," Verstappen says.

In he comes! Here we go...

It's a quick stop and Mercedes could be forced to react. Verstappen comes out behind Leclerc and Ricciardo. Verstappen onto the hard tyres.

07:20 PM

Lap 9 of 56 - Verstappen VERY close at the end of the back straight

Would have been with DRS but the signs at the moment are that the Red Bull is working much better. Perez has lost a little time to the leaders on the last lap but is still within 3.6s of his team-mate. Leclerc 9.8s behind him.

07:19 PM

Lap 8 of 56 - Top 10 and gaps

1. HAM
2. VER +0.664
3. PER +3.836
4. LEC +12.987
5. RIC +16.203
6. SAI +20.565
7. NOR +21.327
8. TSU +26.523
9. GAS +27.860
10. BOT +28.567

07:18 PM

Lap 8 of 66 - Alonso makes an early stop

2.5s stop and he comes out in 17th place ahead of Mazepin.

Verstappen is staying well within a second. He notes how much Hamilton is sliding again.

07:16 PM

Lap 7 of 56 - Hamilton: "He's quicker than me right now"

I don't think he's wrong. If Verstappen is able to stay within DRS range but in the dirty air then that means the Red Bull has a performance advantage.

Perez is staying on their pace and is 2.6s behind his team-mate and 3.4s behind Hamilton.

07:14 PM

Lap 6 of 56 - Hamilton leads Verstappen by 0.8s

Perez lapped quicker than Hamilton the last time around. It is important for Red Bull and Verstappen that he can stay up there and be a feature strategically.

07:13 PM

Lap 5 of 56 - Hamilton sets another fastest lap

But not by very much at all. Bottas has not really made much progress, he's in 10th. Perez, after dropping back initially, has stopped losing as much time to the two leaders.

07:11 PM

Lap 4 of 56 - Hamilton nearly a second ahead of Verstappen

Hamilton posting a fastest lap of his own. Esteban Ocon has come into the pits to change to the hard tyres already. He had a bit of damage to his front wing. He clipped Giovinazzi's rear right.

A replay shows Latifi tagging compatriot Stroll at the first corner. He says he was sandwiched by the Haas cars, but would have to see it again.

07:09 PM

Lap 3 of 56 - Top 10

1. HAM
2. VER
3. PER
4. LEC
5. RIC
6. SAI
7. NOR
8. TSU
9. GAS
10. BOT

Verstappen sets the fastest lap. If Verstappen can see the Mercedes is sliding will he play the patient game? Will he start to drop back or and save his tyres? At this point surely not. Maybe in another four laps or so? The Mercedes has a lot of grunt on the straights, however. Which could be a problem.

07:08 PM

Lap 2 of 56 - Hamilton leads Verstappen by 0.6s

That was crucial at the start from Hamilton but Verstappen is not letting him get away. Perez in third has dropped 1.8s behind his team-mate.

"He's sliding a lot," says Verstappen of Hamilton.

07:07 PM

THE 2021 US GRAND PRIX IS GO!

It's a fine start from Hamilton who takes the inside line and the lead into turn one.... Verstappen moves over on him after a much worse start. Will they touch again? It's close... but no!

Verstappen runs wide at turn two, keeping his foot in but Hamilton keeps the lead.

Perez gets alongside his team-mate and thinks about taking second but backs out in the esses...There's a tremendous McLaren/Ferrari sandwich for between fourth and sixth and Daniel Ricciardo eventually gets Sainz to go fifth...

A fantastic opening lap and especially fantastic for Hamilton.

07:03 PM

Verstappen is very keen to get to his grid slot...

He could face a long wait until everyone else gets there. Cars almost stationary at the back as they form up.

07:01 PM

THE FORMATION LAP IS GO

Everyone away cleanly on the run up to turn one.

07:00 PM

Starting tyre types

Everyone is on mediums apart from Sainz and Tsunoda who had to use softs to make it into the final part of qualifying. Nobody on hards.

06:57 PM

That is quite the crowd...

Absolutely MEGA 🤩#USGP 🇺🇸 #F1 pic.twitter.com/m2sKQ2AqX5

— Formula 1 (@F1) October 24, 2021

Just a few minutes until lights out.

06:52 PM

They've got Gasly's engine going

Apparently it was a sensor issue. All good, then.

06:51 PM

Toto Wolff speaking to Sky Sports F1

I'd rather be on the other side but it is what it is. It's hotter than expected, so I guess there is strategy to play. I think on track to overtake is pretty difficult and following is difficult because the tyres are just going to melt after a few corners.

He says it's going to be about strategy and the undercut if you are behind.

06:48 PM

Bad news for Gasly

He should be starting in P8 but there's an issue with his power unit. Is having a great season but is not having a great deal of luck...

Will he be able to start the race? Some doubt about that at the moment. Frantic work going on to his car on the grid.

06:44 PM

FINAL STARTING GRID

2. HAM 1. VER
4. LEC 3. PER
6. RIC 5. SAI
7. NOR 8. GAS
10. TSU 9. BOT
12. GIO 11. OCO
14. LAT 13. STR
16. MSC 15. RAI
18. VET 17. MAZ
20. RUS 19. ALO

Verstappen starting on the clean side of the grid but that is not the inside line. It worked quite well for Jamie Chadwick in the W Series race earlier on today, though.

06:41 PM

Martin Brundle not having much luck with his celebrities on the grid

He's rebuffed by Megan Thee Stallion's security after one question. "You can't do that...", they say to him.

"Well, I can because I just did," he replies. Serena Williams then comes over all shy and coy immediately after. He gets a word with Rory McIlroy, though.

Next it's time for Ben Stiller. How about some F1 personnel?

06:34 PM

Sergio Perez is collared by Martin Brundle on the grid

He hasn't been able to do this since the last race of 2019. And he's pretty happy about it.

06:32 PM

Strategy chat from Pirelli

Should be a nailed-on two-stopper which makes things more interesting strategically.

06:31 PM

Perez has a bit of a leak issue

But it's only with his drink, thankfully. He says he will need to change his balaclava.

06:21 PM

A fair few grid penalties this weekend

Russell, Alonso and Vettel are required to start from the back of the grid due to various power unit penalties and Valtteri Bottas has a five-place penalty for a new internal combustion engine, so he starts from ninth. Vettel finished ahead of Alonso and Russell in qualifying so it will be 18th, 19th and 20th for them.

We'll have the full grid shortly.

Just under 40 minutes until lights out and the pit lane is now open.

06:14 PM

The crowd in Texas is mad for Perez

You have to wonder what on earth it will be like in Mexico?

06:13 PM

The run up to turn one will be crucial

What chance of the championship rivals coming together again there? It's not a dissimilar lap to Silverstone... could we see the wheel-to-wheel battle that we saw from the starting line to Copse again? I wonder if this time either driver will back out to save his own skin.

Let's not forget that Sergio Perez could well get involved, too. That could make it tasty.

06:07 PM

If I were an F1 driver at the United States Grand Prix in Texas

I would simply not wear one of those hats. No sir.

06:01 PM

In other motor-racing-at-the-Circuit-of-the-Americas-news...

Jamie Chadwick was earlier crowned W Series champion for 2021, her second title in the second edition of the series. She went from pole to the chequered flag without really having to look back at all...

You can read more about how it all played out here.

05:54 PM

The crowds have been exceptional this weekend

Charles Leclerc has noted the difference since the last time F1 was in Austin in 2019.

"Two years ago we came here... even walking the streets we did not really get recognised. The step since then has been incredible."

How much of that is the impact of Netflix series Drive to Survive? Hard to say. Its first season had already aired in 2019 but it has had another two since then.

05:48 PM

Hamilton is asked what the plan is for him to win the race

I'm still working it out, right now.

The start is definitely an opportunity bit it's a long race. With the heat that we have... it's quite good having this cloud cover. Keeping up with the Red Bull is going to be a challenge.

At the moment I think we're stronger on the straights... but there's a lot of corners here. The tyre management is going to be key today. And going the distance. They have a better choice of strategy but we'll try and make it work.

05:37 PM

Daniel Ricciardo really going for it on the drivers' parade...

Howdy ya'll 🤠

Ricci Bobby is ready to go racing, are you? 😉#USGP 🇺🇸 #F1 @danielricciardo pic.twitter.com/NlmO7dsEJ1

— Formula 1 (@F1) October 24, 2021

Good performance from him in qualifying yesterday. Regardless of what happened in Monza it has been a patchy season at best.

05:12 PM

Some news from earlier in the week

05:02 PM

Watch: The moment Verstappen took pole position in Austin

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04:39 PM

Current constructor standings

04:23 PM

Current driver standings: Top 12

04:04 PM

Final times after qualifying

1. Max Verstappen (Ned) Red Bull 1min 32.910secs
2. Lewis Hamilton (Gbr) Mercedes GP 1:33.119
3. Sergio Perez (Mex) Red Bull 1:33.134
4. Valtteri Bottas (Fin) Mercedes GP 1:33.475
5. Charles Leclerc (Mon) Ferrari 1:33.606
6. Carlos Sainz Jr (Spa) Ferrari. 1:33.792
7. Daniel Ricciardo (Aus) McLaren 1:33.808
8. Lando Norris (Gbr) McLaren 1:33.887
9. Pierre Gasly (Fra) Scuderia AlphaTauri 1:34.118
10. Yuki Tsunoda (Jpn) Scuderia AlphaTauri 1:34.918
11. Esteban Ocon (Fra) Alpine 1:35.377
12. Sebastian Vettel (Ger) Aston Martin 1:35.500
13. Antonio Giovinazzi (Ita) Alfa Romeo Racing 1:35.794
14. Fernando Alonso (Spa) Alpine 1:44.549
15. George Russell (Gbr) Williams 1:35.746
16. Lance Stroll (Can) Aston Martin 1:35.983
17. Nicholas Latifi (Can) Williams 1:35.995
18. Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) Alfa Romeo Racing 1:36.311
19. Mick Schumacher (Ger) Haas F1 1:36.499
20. Nikita Mazepin (Raf) Haas F1 1:36.79

03:02 PM

Good afternoon F1 fans

And welcome to our coverage for the 2021 United States Grand Prix from the Circuit of the Americas, just outside of Austin, Texas. It's a pleasure that F1 is back at this circuit and the attendances throughout the weekend have been staggering and reflect the growing prominence and interest of Formula One in America.

And, as it's 2021, we're all set up superbly for another exciting race, with Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton lining up first and second again. Here's Phil Duncan with a brief recap of what happened in qualifying yesterday.

As ever, we'll be here for all the build-up, all the action and the reaction. The race begins at 8pm.