"A real let down": Piastri's F1 lead slips as Max dominates

The Formula One title race is heating up with Max Verstappen firmly back in contention after claiming victory in Austin at the US Grand Prix.

The Red Bull driver delivered a near faultless drive to finish eight seconds ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris in second and Charles Leclerc third.

Australia’s Oscar Piastri was languishing in fifth for much of the race.

Verstappen secured a total of 33 points in Austin having also completed the sprint race on Friday which neither McLaren completed.

It means the gap between Verstappen - who is third in the title standings - and Piastri - who has held on to top spot - is down to 40 points.

Norris is second, 14 points behind his teammate.

Summing up the state of the title race, Sky's David Croft said: “I keep getting reminded of that scene in Jurassic Park, two people sat in a jeep, trying to escape the dinosaurs, and there’s a T-Rex charging after them.

“And there’s your T-Rex, ladies and gentlemen (Max), and Lando and Oscar are in the jeep.”

So with Piastri leading but Norris seemingly the inform driver, what do McLaren do? Let them fight it out or back one to win and the other to play defensive on Max?

Piastri wants to fight.

“I don’t think so,” he told Sky when asked if they should back one in.

“We are still so incredibly tight and we’ve both said we wanted an opportunity to try and fight for the championship because we deserve it.

“So I think it’s far too close to start picking one over the other.

“I think it is very important wherever you go to get qualifying right and today I think race pace could have saved you - but I didn’t have that either.

“So obviously, it’s something I want to work on. Apart from Baku, this has been the first weekend where I have felt it has been a real letdown.

“It’s been sub-par before, but I felt it was pretty good so I’ve obviously got some things to try and understand from this weekend. It was clearly not all about qualifying.

“It was really difficult to get into a rhythm in any way.”

With five races remaining this season there are a maximum 141 points up for grabs.

The circuit continues to Mexico next weekend.