Team boss Christian Horner congratulated with tears in his eyes, Max Verstappen dedicated the triumph to his sponsor: “That was for Dietrich. I gave everything.” With another world champion performance, the Dutchman won the Emotions Grand Prix for Red Bull in the USA and one day after the death of Red Bull founder Mateschitz, he also made the constructor’s title in Formula 1 perfect.
Verstappen fought his way back to the top on Sunday after a botched second pit stop and achieved his 13th Formula 1 win of the season ahead of Austin record winner Lewis Hamilton in the Mercedes and Charles Leclerc in the Ferrari. The two-time champion, who had started from second place, matched the record set by Michael Schumacher (2004) and Sebastian Vettel (2013). For his team it is the first title in the constructors’ championship since 2013. Sebastian Vettel put on a strong performance in the fourth to last race of his career and finished eighth despite a botched pit stop. Mick Schumacher, who is fighting to stay with the Haas team, missed the points again in 15th place and must continue to fear for his future in the premier class.
Even before the race started in Austin, applause erupted. The organizers displayed a photo of the Austrian on the monitors, under which was written: “Thanks Didi.” More than 100,000 spectators honored the deceased Mateschitz along with all the teams and the drivers, including of course the former Red Bull successful driver Vettel. The 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 champion appeared to be fighting back tears. The declared goal of the current Red Bull drivers for the race: to make the world championship title in the constructors’ championship perfect for Mateschitz.
And already after the first corner, Verstappen had created the optimal conditions for this. Thanks to an excellent start, he pushed past pole man Carlos Sainz in the Ferrari on the mighty uphill section. The Spaniard then slowly took the left turn, pulled inwards a little and was then pushed slightly from behind by Hamilton. The problem: On the inside, Hamilton’s Mercedes colleague George Russell collided with Sainz, for whom the race was over – a water leak on the radiator.
Two safety car phases and a botched pit stop characterize the race
Because Perez was also one of the winners in the second Red Bull in the first phase of the race after ninth place on the grid and ranked behind Verstappen, Hamilton and Russell, everything was headed towards Red Bull’s next title triumph. Charles Leclerc had to start from twelfth place after a ten-place penalty, Monegasse struggled, but was on his own after Sainz was eliminated. At the very front, Verstappen was only affected by the wind, but he controlled the race and was determined to make his sponsor Mateschitz proud. “Without him I wouldn’t be sitting here now,” he emphasized before the race.
Valtteri Bottas then caused new tension when he landed in the gravel bed with the Alfa Romeo and triggered a safety car phase. Vettel, who had fought his way up from tenth place after a good start, took the opportunity. As soon as the safety car drove back in, Fernando Alonso caused a shock when he crashed his Alpine into Lance Stroll’s Aston Martin at high speed. The Spaniard’s car took off at the front and only continued on the rear tires. Stroll’s car crashed into the barrier and was pretty much wrecked.
The safety car had to be deployed again, but luckily the drivers were not injured. Alonso was even able to continue. Verstappen once again skillfully defended his lead against Hamilton when the safety car drove back into the pits. But then a bad tire change slowed the Dutchman down. “Fine, fine,” he radioed cynically to the pits. He had fallen behind Hamilton and Leclerc. But a few laps before the end, after a successful race to catch up, he was back at the front again.