GP USA. Max Verstappen’s victory in the 33rd Grand Prix – a disappointment for Alfa Romeo.

Max Verstappen won the US Grand Prix in Austin in a Red Bull-Honda race ahead of Lewis Hamilton in a Mercedes and Charles Leclerc in a Ferrari.

Joy and sadness are close to each other. “Mister Red Bull” Dietrich Mateschitz died on Saturday at the age of 78, and on Sunday Max Verstappen won the US Grand Prix in Austin in a Red Bull Honda.

For the 25-year-old Dutchman, who successfully defended his world title two weeks ago at Suzuka, it was already his 33rd victory in his 160th World Championship race. Verstappen equaled the record 13 season wins set by Michael Schumacher (2004) and Sebastian Vettel (2013). There are still three races to go: in Mexico (October 30), Brazil (November 13) and Abu Dhabi (November 20).

Verstappen gave the victory to Austrian businessman Mateschitz, who died of cancer, but had to fight hard for it. Until the 36 of 56 laps, it looked like Verstappen would be able to win easily. But then, after an unsuccessful stop (the left front wheel jammed), he returned to fourth place.

With only six laps to go, he overtook his predecessor Lewis Hamilton in a Mercedes and was five seconds away from him. The seven-time champion is now 20 races without a victory and still has to wait for his 104th Grand Prix victory.

Red Bull gave Mitchitz a second gift by winning the World Builders Championship early – a first for Red Bulls since 2013.

Only Ferrari could have postponed that. But for pole rider Carlos Sainz, the race was already over after the first corner: the Spaniard had to retire after touching George Russell in the Mercedes and the subsequent spin with tires damaged and water leaking in the cooling system.

Teammate Charles Leclerc finished his race to catch up after returning from second on the grid to 12th for third on the podium. In the 19th race of the season, Monaco beat Sergio Perez at Red Bull Honda, who finished fourth and is now two points ahead (267:265) in their fight for second in the championship.

Alfa Romeo-Ferrari, which has had 51 points after nine races of the season (only one championship point has been added since then), is still in crisis. Valtteri Bottas, who started from seventh on the grid, had to give up after a run, and his teammate Zhou Guanyu ranked 13th.

The Hinwil Racing Team thus maintained Team 6 rank, which is a two-figure million in total bonuses at the end of the season. However, thanks to Sebastian Vettel’s eighth place, Aston Martin Mercedes is only three points behind (49:52).