Verstappen denies Hamilton 1st win of season to capture U.S. GP, tie F1 record

Max Verstappen handed Lewis Hamilton late to earn a record-tying thirteenth win of the season on the United States Grand Prix on Sunday, and delivered a victory to honour the recollection of Red Bull staff founder and proprietor Dietrich Mateschitz.

Verstappen’s race was almost undone by a uncommon sluggish pit cease by Red Bull halfway via the race that dropped him effectively behind Hamilton. But Verstappen fought again to go final season’s rival for the championship on lap 50 of 56.

Verstappen then had to maintain off the pestering Hamilton via the ultimate laps as his staff warned him not to exceed monitor limits that will draw a penalty.

The win as a aid for Red Bull. The staff had introduced shortly earlier than qualifying on Saturday that Mateschitz had died at age 78. Verstappen vowed he’d give every part to get the win to honour him.

“We gave it every part on the market, it was a troublesome weekend for us,” Verstappen mentioned. “The solely factor we may do right this moment was win.”

“This one is unquestionably devoted to Dietrich,” Verstappen mentioned. “I pushed it to the restrict to come again.”

The win continued Verstappen’s run of dominance in 2022. He had already clinched the season championship in Japan two weeks earlier. Sunday’s win tied him with Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel for many in a season with three races nonetheless to go.

Red Bull clinches constructors’ title

Since its founding, Red Bull has received six driver championships and 5 constructors’ titles. Verstappen’s win clinched this season’s staff championship. His Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez completed fourth.

“We needed to do this in model and I believe we did that right this moment,” Verstappen mentioned.

Mateschitz, the Austrian billionaire co-founder of the Red Bull power drinks international empire, purchased the Jaguar staff in 2004 and rebranded it as Red Bull in 2005. He added a second staff to the Red Bull steady when he purchased the Minardi program renamed it Toro Rosso in 2006 to be a program for coaching youthful drivers. That staff is now Alpha Tauri.

But Mateschitz, who had been reportedly ailing for months and died at age 78, lived lengthy sufficient to see Verstappen win two championships and begin what could possibly be one other dominant period for the staff he based.

F1 held a short tribute to honor Mateschitz earlier than the race. Large indicators of “Danke Didi” (Thank you, Didi) had been posted on the video screens and Vettel, who received 4 championships with Red Bull and now races with Aston Martin, appeared to be combating again tears.

Verstappen additionally appeared to wipe away tears as he stood on the victory podium and the staff gathered beneath him.

“This one is unquestionably devoted to Dietrich,” Verstappen mentioned. “I pushed it to the restrict to come again.”