Max Verstappen wins the 2022 Formula One US GP. The Red Bull Dutchman closes ahead of Lewis Hamilton and Charles LeClerc. Immediately outside Sainz.
At the end of a spectacular race, it is Max Verstappen on Red Bull to win the United States Formula One Grand Prix at the Austin circuit. The Dutchman, who equals Schumacher and Vettel’s record for seasonal victories, thus drags the team to the world championship triumph also in the constructors, which was missing from the Milton Keynes team since 2013.
The fresh two world champion driver has made the most of his potential Red Bullimmediately burning Sainz at the start, then out for a contact with Russell, and also managing to overcome a problem at the pit stop that forced him to a long chase against his old rival Lewis Hamiltonwho cherished the dream of his first win of the season.
On the lowest step of the podium the Ferrari of LeClerc after starting from the twelfth position. However, the Monegasque came out of the car a little sadly since he was also potentially fighting for the victory, except having to give up due to tire wear.
F1 GP USA 2022: how the race went
Ready, go and it’s immediately chaos at the start. Carlos Sainz on Ferrari, who started in Pole Position, he was “burned” by Max Verstappen on Red Bull who immediately took the lead. The Spaniard of the redhead turns around after being hit hard by George Russellon Mercedes.
The impact is unfortunately fatal for the Iberian who is therefore forced to withdraw immediately. For the English driver, on the other hand, a penalty of five seconds. Meanwhile, from the rear, the other Ferrari driver, Charles LeClerc, climbs up to seventh position within five laps.
The race continued with Verstappen in the lead, closely followed by Lewis Hamilton who showed good pace with his Mercedes. The first lap of the pit stop rewards LeClerc who finds himself momentarily in second position before the entry of the Safety Car due to the exit of Valtteri Bottas in turn 19.
So the time comes for the Monegasque to stop and find himself in fourth position behind the other Red Bull of Sergio Perez. The action does not last long because one Lance Stroll’s villainous maneuver forces Fernando Alonso into violent contact: the Canadian retires, while the Iberian manages to return to the pits and start again. Other Safety Car.
At the restart, we are on lap 26, Verstappen is ahead of Hamilton, Perez, LeClerc, Russell, Gasly, Tsunoda, Norris and Schumacher. On lap 30, Leclerc passes Perez after a long chase with a textbook overtaking.
Twist on lap 36: Max Verstappen pits to respond to Lewis Hamilton’s undercut, which was fast approaching. The World Champion’s pit stop is much slower than expected (11.1 seconds) and this facilitates the overtaking by the British and also by Charles LeClerc, who returned in the same lap.
The two give birth to one spectacular fight which lasts for a couple of laps and ends with the overtaking of the Dutch driver. Meanwhile, Vettel savors glory with a momentary first position ahead of Hamilton and precisely Max Verstappen and Charles LeClerc. However, the British immediately conquered the first position against the German during the 41st lap. Problems then at the pit stop also for Vettel, who returns thirteenth.
The key overtaking of the race finally arrives at the 50th lap. Verstappen’s Red Bull with medium tires flies on velvet and after gaining practically half a second per lap manages to overtake the rival who had instead mounted the harder compound.
The race ends with Max Verstappen who wins the thirteenth race of the season equaling the records of Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel. There Red Bull is mathematically World Constructors Champion 9 years after the last time. This is the order of arrival:
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
- Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
- Charles LeClerc (Ferrari)
- Sergio Perez (Red Bull)
- George Russell (Mercedes)
- Lando Norris (McLaren)
- Fernando Alonso (Alpine)
- Sebastian Vettel (Aston Martin)
- Kevin Magnussen (Haas)
- Yuki Tsunoda (AlphaTauri)
- Esteban Ocon (Alpine)
- Alex Albon (Wlliams)
- Zhou (Alfa Romeo)
- Pierre Gasly (AlphaTauri)
- Mick Schumacher (Haas)
- Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren)
- Nicholas Latifi (Williams)
- Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) – Retired
- Valtteri Bottas (Alfa Romeo) – Retired
- Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) – Retired
Next appointment next Sunday, October 30th, for Mexican Grand Prix on the Hermanos Rodriguez circuit.
