Oscar Piastri's championship lead has been cut to just 14 points after he could only manage fifth at the United States Grand Prix, while Max Verstappen cruised to a dominant victory. The McLaren driver started sixth and never challenged at the front, as his title rivals closed in.
Verstappen, who had been written off after the Dutch Grand Prix, took his third win in four races and now trails Piastri by 40 points. The Red Bull driver was untouchable once he held the lead at the start, leaving Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc to battle for second. Norris eventually claimed the runner-up spot, but Verstappen was long gone.
Piastri's lack of pace in Austin was evident throughout the weekend, and he could not mount a charge forward. With five races remaining, his lead over Norris is down to 14 points, while Verstappen is 40 behind. The McLaren driver will need to rediscover form quickly to hold off the resurgent world champion.
Verstappen's turnaround has been remarkable. After trailing Piastri by 104 points in late August, he has halved that deficit in just four rounds. Red Bull have solved their car's handling issues, while McLaren have ceased development on their 2025 car to focus on 2026, which may have allowed Verstappen to close the gap.
