Flawless Verstappen closes title gap on McLaren duo

Max Verstappen continued his march into the Formula One championship battle by cruising to victory at the United States Grand Prix.

- SCOTT HUNT

The lights-to-flag win completed a perfect weekend in Austin for the resurgent Red Bull driver after he also won Saturday's sprint from pole.

Lando Norris sealed second after winning a race-long tussle with Charles Leclerc in the closing stages as the British driver reduced McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri’s championship lead to 14 points after the Australian finished only fifth.

Verstappen’s 33 points from the weekend mean he has reduced his own deficit to Piastri to 40 points - from 63 - following the costly collision during the sprint, which dumped both McLarens out.

The Red Bull driver declared his bid for a fifth straight title over before the summer break, but he has slashed the gap to Piastri, which stood at 104 points after Zandvoort five races ago.

That race was the last win for the previously dominant McLaren pair as a genuine three-way title scrap has emerged, with five rounds remaining and 141 points left to fight for.