Verstappen Clears Chaos to Win Sprint as McLarens Crash Out

Sports

The 2025 United States Grand Prix Sprint turned into a dramatic turn of fortune as Max Verstappen claimed victory while McLaren’s title contenders Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were eliminated on the opening lap after a collision at Turn 1.

Starting from pole, Verstappen kept a cool head as the opening corner erupted into a multi-car incident. Piastri, initiating from third, clipped Nico Hülkenberg’s Sauber which sent his McLaren into Norris’s car. The result: both McLarens out, clearing the way for Verstappen to dominate the 19-lap sprint. A safety car period followed as debris was cleared, and when racing resumed Verstappen steadied his lead over George Russell and Carlos Sainz Jr. to take maximum points.

Addressing the incident, McLaren CEO Zak Brown defended his drivers, saying: “That was terrible. Neither of our drivers to blame there. Some amateur-hour driving from some drivers up there at the front.” Brown singled out Hülkenberg’s positioning as unacceptable and expressed frustration that his team’s championship bid suffered because of it.

For McLaren, the crash is a significant setback: their drivers arrived in Austin both inside the championship fight, yet now pit the weekend’s remaining races against the clock to maintain their title hopes. Verstappen’s win adds another twist to his own campaign, reducing the gap and reigniting his challenge.

The Sprint result sets up an unpredictable Grand Prix on Sunday, with McLaren forced to recover and others seeing opportunity. The opening-lap drama in Austin has already shifted the momentum and the pressure as the season heads into its final phase.