You’d be forgiven for forgetting who led heading into this race, such has been the number of lead changes in recent races, but it was Verstappen by six points. Yet that was a slender lead given the expectation that COTA would suit Mercedes, and Red Bull might have to do a bit of damage limitation.
400,000 people attended the United States Grand Prix weekend, and they saw the two title rivals elevate themselves and each other far above the rest of the field.
Sergio Perez had seemed a threat in qualifying before Verstappen secured pole ahead of Hamilton, and after a grid ceremony full of energy and buzz befitting of the occasion, the two rivals went wheel-to-wheel into Turn 1.
