![\"Oscar](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/5f682b_92b7ed0d89094370b51aeefcc38f0420~mv2.png\")
<\/p>\nWritten by Elaina Russell, Edited by Vyas Ponnuri<\/p>\n
The 2025 United States Grand Prix delivered a weekend of dominance, duels, and defiance deep in the heart of Texas. Max Verstappen reasserted his title ambitions with a near flawless performance, Lando Norris reignited the championship fight, and Ferrari\u2019s dream of a double-podium slipped away in the heat of battle.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s how all 20 drivers performed on race day:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Oscar Piastri will be searching for answers behind his lack of pace following the United States Grand Prix | Credit: Formula One<\/p>\n
McLaren<\/p>\n
No. 81 – Oscar Piastri – B<\/p>\n
A rare weekend off for the Australian. After crashing out of the sprint, Piastri never quite looked in sync with the car \u2014 fighting grip, balance, and degradation. He gained one place at the start but spent much of the race unable to match the leader\u2019s pace.<\/p>\n
\u201cA bit of a tricky race,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019ll review and bounce back next weekend.\u201d<\/p>\n
No. 4 – Lando Norris – A<\/p>\n
For once, McLaren didn\u2019t have the fastest car, but Norris still delivered. Losing out to Charles Leclerc at the start meant a tense, strategic battle through the opening stints. His double pass for second was clean, composed, and critical in keeping him within touching distance of Piastri in the title fight.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt took long enough,\u201d Norris laughed post-race, referencing his overtake on Leclerc late on in the race. \u201cIt was tough, but the strategy was good, and it worked out well in the end. Full focus now switches to Mexico and doing the best job I can there.”<\/p>\n
Norris heads to Mexico just 14 points behind his teammate, and in the kind of form that suggests he\u2019s far from out of the running.<\/p>\n
Ferrari<\/p>\n
No. 44 – Lewis Hamilton – B+<\/p>\n
Race day in Austin was Lewis Hamilton\u2019s best Sunday in months. He found confidence early, pulled off tidy moves in the opening stint, and kept a charging Piastri behind in the final laps. The strategy didn\u2019t fully play out in his favour, but the seven-time champion looked energised. The Briton finally seems at one with the SF-25.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m finally feeling like I\u2019m on top of the car,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
After two tough rounds, Ferrari\u2019s veteran is back in the mix.<\/p>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/5f682b_5aeab488a4ff4b74bca8afbd8f70e1d1~mv2.png\")
<\/p>\n
A strong weekend in Texas has left Lewis Hamilton feeling \u201cfinally on top of the car\u201d | Credit: Formula One<\/p>\n
No. 16 – Charles Leclerc – A<\/p>\n
Ferrari rolled the dice, and Leclerc made it work. Starting as the only frontrunner on softs, he launched past Norris into Turn 1 and stayed there through relentless defensive driving. Though he eventually lost out to the McLaren, his podium was richly deserved after what had otherwise been a turbulent season.<\/p>\n
\u201cArriving on the grid as the only car on the softs looked risky,\u201d Leclerc admitted, \u201cbut it paid off.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ferrari\u2019s pace is creeping back, and with Mercedes faltering, second in the Constructors is still on the table.<\/p>\n
![\"Leclerc](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/5f682b_26db7fd76e4c4f33a05041f354b39802~mv2.png\")
<\/p>\n
Leclerc claimed yet another podium at COTA | Credit: Formula One<\/p>\n
Mercedes<\/p>\n
No. 63 – George Russell – B<\/p>\n
Russell\u2019s race was defined in the opening seconds. Boxed in at Turn 1, he lost ground to Hamilton and Piastri and never truly recovered. From there, it was a controlled but lonely drive \u2014 solid points, no fireworks.<\/p>\n
Mercedes left Austin knowing they had potential, but fell short in execution.\u00a0<\/p>\n
No. 12 – Kimi Antonelli – C-<\/p>\n
Contact with Carlos Sainz wrecked what could\u2019ve been another points finish for the Italian. The spin dropped him to the bottom of the order, and while he clawed his way back, he lacked the car to recover fully.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a shame,\u201d he said. \u201cWe move forward.\u201d<\/p>\n
Growing pains, yes. The raw speed remains.<\/p>\n
Red Bull Racing<\/p>\n
No. 1 – Max Verstappen – A+<\/p>\n
It was a weekend that felt like a statement. Pole, sprint Win, Grand Prix win\u2013Verstappen didn\u2019t just dominate, he dismantled the field. His launch from the line was near perfect; Leclerc\u2019s soft tyres barely a nuisance. Once clear of the pack, he controlled the race with ruthless precision, even as temperatures soared.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe start was key today,\u201d he said. \u201cWe really maximised everything with the points, and we need to continue having these perfect weekends until the end of the season. I am very happy to win again.\u201d<\/p>\n
It was his fifth victory of 2025 and the 68th of his career \u2014 one that slashes the championship deficit to just 40 points.\u00a0<\/p>\n
No. 22 – Yuki Tsunoda – A-<\/p>\n
A strong weekend from Tsunoda, who\u2019s found real rhythm in recent weeks since his promotion. A flying start from 13th on the grid brought him into the points, and despite a heated battle with Oliver Bearman, he held his ground to secure a well-earned top-ten finish.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have scored points in both races this weekend,\u201d he said. \u201cOverall, the weekend was positive. I need to improve on the short runs.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Red Bull leaves Austin with both cars in the points and a renewed sense of purpose.<\/p>\n
![\"Oliver](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/5f682b_45889e6cffcd4e149115298a83798d92~mv2.png\")
<\/p>\n
Oliver Bearman and Yuki Tsunoda had a near-miss on Lap 34 | Credit: Formula One<\/p>\n
Williams<\/p>\n
No. 23 – Alexander Albon – C+<\/p>\n
A frustrating afternoon for Albon. A hard-tyre start backfired as grip evaporated early on, forcing an unplanned stop. Though his race pace improved later on, the car simply wasn\u2019t balanced enough to climb into the points.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had good pace, but it was a bit scrappy,\u201d he admitted.<\/p>\n
With Mexico\u2019s altitude suiting the Williams package, there\u2019s a chance to reset next weekend.\u00a0<\/p>\n
No. 55 – Carlos Sainz – C<\/p>\n
Another promising weekend undone by contact. A lunge on Antonelli ended in the gravel, with Sainz accepting partial blame after the collision ended his race. Up until then, his pace was strong\u2013perhaps good enough for points\u2013but it was another costly error in an otherwise encouraging spell.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was behind so I accept my part of fault,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
A missed opportunity, and one that stings given Williams\u2019 upward trajectory.<\/p>\n
Sauber<\/p>\n
No. 27 – Nico H\u00fclkenberg – B+<\/p>\n
Quietly effective, ruthlessly consistent\u2013the hallmarks of Nico H\u00fclkenberg\u2019s season continued in Austin this past weekend. After missing out on sprint mileage due to contact on Saturday, the veteran maximised his Sunday.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A sharp start kept him out of much of the chaos, and from there it was about patience, rhythm, and execution. Sauber\u2019s race plan was aggressive yet tidy, and H\u00fclkenberg delivered it to perfection.<\/p>\n
The German\u2019s measured pace in the middle stint allowed him to hold off Bearman in the closing stages. It was a professional, points-scoring drive that underlined why Sauber continues to rely on his experience to anchor the team\u2019s campaign.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe race was clean, well-executed on multiple fronts,\u201d he said. \u201cWe were determined to make the most of it.\u201d<\/p>\n
After several scrappy weekends for others, H\u00fclkenberg\u2019s reliability stands out. His eighth-place finish marked Sauber\u2019s first points since Imola, and a timely boost ahead of Mexico.\u00a0<\/p>\n
![\"Nico](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/5f682b_9e2784abaa244d38852d4b227519711a~mv2.png\")
<\/p>\n
Nico H\u00fclkenberg on track at Austin | Credit: Formula One<\/p>\n
No. 5 – Gabriel Bortoleto – C<\/p>\n
A subdued showing from the Brazilian rookie. Starting from the rear after a compromised qualifying, Bortoleto kept his nose clean but never found the performance window needed to threaten the midfield. Sauber gambled on a different strategy for the rookie, though his challenge suffered in the later stages, and he crossed the line in 18th.<\/p>\n
Despite lacking outright pace, Bortoleto avoided any serious mistakes and provided valuable feedback throughout the race, which is something that Sauber\u2019s engineers will take comfort in as they refine their setup for high-altitude Mexico City. The Brazilian is still adapting to Formula One\u2019s rhythm, but his calm under pressure suggests maturity beyond his years.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been a rather uneventful race,\u201d he said. \u201cWe’ll take the learnings from this weekend and move onto the next race.\u201d<\/p>\n
Racing Bulls<\/p>\n
No. 6 – Isack Hadjar – C<\/p>\n
A weekend that promised little and delivered the same. The French rookie\u2019s first stint lacked bite, and by the time he switched tyres, the pack ahead had all but disappeared. Still, his racecraft shone in brief flashes.<\/p>\n
Racing Bulls will be disappointed not to convert their one-lap speed into Sunday performance, but Hadjar\u2019s consistency and composure continue to develop. His ability to keep focus during an anonymous race speaks to the discipline that\u2019s quickly becoming his trademark.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are a few things we need to understand with the car,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019ve been strong most weekends this year, but we had a ride issue that we need to figure out and make sure it doesn\u2019t happen again.\u201d<\/p>\n
Not spectacular, but part of the groundwork that will pay dividends later.<\/p>\n
No. 30 – Liam Lawson – B-<\/p>\n
Once again, Lawson found himself on the fringes of the points. And once again, he left wondering what might have been. A boxed start at the outset cost him valuable ground, though he managed the race superbly from there.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Kiwi has become the team\u2019s tactical anchor, managing tyres better than most in the midfield and keeping pressure on those ahead. His eleventh-place finish was frustrating but underlined the Racing Bulls\u2019 solid operational footing.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere were points available throughout the weekend,\u201d Lawson said. \u201cIt\u2019s frustrating.\u201d<\/p>\n
Aston Martin<\/p>\n
No. 18 – Lance Stroll – B-<\/p>\n
A sharp Sunday for Stroll. After a muted sprint, Stroll bounced back with confidence, scything through traffic and pulling off several clean overtakes en route to 12th position. He managed his tyres well, keeping him in contention for lower points throughout much of the race.<\/p>\n
The Canadian looked comfortable in the AMR25 for the first time in several rounds, adapting well to changing wind conditions that unsettled others. Though he fell just short of scoring, it was a well-rounded performance that hints at some chance of renewal for the Aston Martin team heading into Mexico.<\/p>\n
\u201cToday was a fun race,\u201d he said. \u201cWe did the best we could.\u201d<\/p>\n
Positive signs and a reminder that when the car behaves, so does Stroll.<\/p>\n
No. 14 – Fernando Alonso – B<\/p>\n
The two-time world champion seemed to extract everything he could from his own Aston, converting a tenth-place start on the grid to a tenth-place finish and a single, hard-earned point.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It wasn\u2019t a headline-grabbing drive, but it was quintessential Alonso \u2014 executing at a high level even with limited machinery.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Haas<\/p>\n
No. 87 – Oliver Bearman – B+<\/p>\n
Another strong showing for the young Briton on Haas\u2019 home soil. Bearman delivered an aggressive drive to bring Haas points in Austin, a result that the team and their fans undoubtedly relished. His wheel-to-wheel battle with Tsunoda in particular was among the race\u2019s highlights.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not how we should be racing,\u201d he said. \u201cBut we avoided contact and scored.\u201d<\/p>\n
The stewards would go on to take no action regarding what Bearman deemed Tsunoda\u2019s \u201cvery dangerous\u201d move.<\/p>\n
No. 31 – Esteban Ocon – C<\/p>\n
A tricky weekend for Ocon, who struggled to match his teammate\u2019s pace. He gained ground at the start but quickly slipped back as grip faded on the hard tyres.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Still, the Frenchman gathered useful data and kept things tidy, helping the team secure valuable feedback on aerodynamics and tyre performance. His 15th-place finish won\u2019t grab headlines, but the collective result keeps Haas climbing the midfield.<\/p>\n
Alpine<\/p>\n
No. 10 – Pierre Gasly – D+<\/p>\n
It was another rough outing for Gasly in a car that continues to disappoint. After a solid opening stint where he shadowed Lawson in a DRS train, his race unravelled after a sluggish pit stop dropped him into heavy traffic. From there, his pace collapsed and he limped back home in 19th, ahead of only Sainz\u2019s non-existent entry.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were just too slow,\u201d Gasly admitted.<\/p>\n
![\"Alpine](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/5f682b_0451f1a45d694b3c9a51ab53f5aec907~mv2.png\")
<\/p>\n
Alpine will have be having a talking to with Franco Colapinto following his ignoring of a direct instruction | Credit: Formula One<\/p>\n
No. 43 – Franco Colapinto – D<\/p>\n
Drama defined Colapinto\u2019s afternoon. After a quiet opening stint, the rookie ignored team orders in the closing laps, overtaking Gasly against direct instructions. Though the move was clean, it highlighted tensions within a team already under scrutiny.\u00a0<\/p>\n
His pace was marginally better than Gasly\u2019s, but the call to defy management can and has dominated post-race discussions. Still, the aggression showed spark\u2013the kind that could serve him well if channelled properly.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s slow,\u201d Colapinto said, unapologetic over the team radio.<\/p>\n
Looking ahead<\/p>\n
With just five rounds to go, the championship fight remains alive. Verstappen\u2019s perfect weekend has reignited the hunt, Norris is still pushing, and Piastri\u2019s once semi-comfortable lead is beginning to shrink. Ferrari and Mercedes continue to trade blows for second-best constructor, while the midfield chaos shows zero sign of calming.<\/p>\n
Mexico City awaits, and if Austin proved anything, it\u2019s the momentum that will matter.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Written by Elaina Russell, Edited by Vyas Ponnuri The 2025 United States Grand Prix delivered a weekend of…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":215995,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[36],"tags":[1687,372,6537,101,56,54,55],"class_list":["post-215994","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-f1","tag-f1","tag-formula-1","tag-formula1","tag-sports","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-unitedkingdom"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/215994","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=215994"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/215994\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/215995"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=215994"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=215994"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=215994"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}