The United States Grand Prix did not disappoint in delivering an exciting race till the very last lap. While the Circuit of the Americas track in the past has been well-suited for the Mercedes cars, this season after a year away because of the pandemic, the Red Bull team has come back stronger as Max Verstappen took victory in the lone star state.  

After starting from pole position and then losing the lead after battling Lewis Hamilton on the very first lap, the Red Bull team relied on an aggressive strategy to fight back and claim victory. After the race, Verstappen described how thrilling and intense the race was from start to finish:

"The pressure was on for the whole race and not knowing how quickly Lewis would catch up. I actually thought I had a decent start, but Lewis had an even better one,” replied Verstappen.

“It was exciting. The whole race, the pressure was on, not knowing how quick Lewis was going to get and we went very aggressive on the first stop in the start, and then again in the middle stint Lewis was within that undercut range so we had to respond: we had to go early again.”

As the track temperature heated up on the Circuit of the Americas track, Verstappen skillfully managed his tyres throughout the race, while Hamilton kept closing the gap lap after lap at the end of the race. 

“And then the last stint was very long. And in this heat, especially. But we managed to hang on at the end just enough with the tyres to push with two laps to go. I had the Haas [of Schumacher] in front of me and going into the last sector he was in front,” added Verstappen.

"With worn tyres it’s not easy to follow. Luckily, in a way, he stayed in front of me and gave me DRS and then whatever I lost, it stabilised a bit because of that DRS and the last lap was all about trying to have a good first sector and beginning of the second sector.

“It wasn’t easy because the tyres were finished – but incredible to win here,” he added.

“I think I have been in this position before when you are in the lead with the [worn] tyres or the other way around when you are hunting. I tried to do the best I could, trying to be consistent and trying to find the grip within the tyre without damaging too much, and yes, it wasn’t easy – but that made it, I think at the end of the day, really exciting,” he explained.

After a stressful and thrilling race win in Austin, the Red Bull team proved that their strong and consistent teamwork was the key factor to Verstappen’s success in the lone star state. 

“We definitely gave it our all today as a team and it was great to have Checo up there with me on the podium.”

With more than 400,00 thousand fans attending over the span of the entire race weekend for the United States Grand Prix, it was a touching and memorable victory for the Dutch driver.  

“It was an exciting race and it feels incredible to win here in front of all the fans.”