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AUSTIN: Max Verstappen made the most of a first-corner collision between the two McLaren drivers to win Saturday’s sprint race at the United States Grand Prix and reduce Oscar Piastri’s lead over him by eight points.

The four-time world champion turned his third consecutive sprint pole at the Circuit of the Americas into a third straight sprint win, reducing the gap between him and Piastri to 55 points.

Lando Norris remained second, 22 points behind Piastri who had crashed into him after being hit by Nico Hulkenberg’s Sauber as the German driver attempted to sweep inside the McLarens at Turn One.

Verstappen went on to win after 19 laps, ahead of Mercedes’ George Russell, Williams’ Carlos Sainz and the two Ferraris, with Lewis Hamilton finishing fourth after a slick overtake of Charles Leclerc.

“The start was good,” said Verstappen. “But then, of course, there was the safety... It took a few laps to have good pace so we need to work out what happened there.

“We need to be better in race trim tomorrow to fight the McLarens. We’ll take a look. We have some ideas so hopefully it will work better.”

The McLarens are without a race win since Australian Piastri’s victory at the Dutch Grand Prix in August.

“We both went pretty deep into Turn One,” said Piastri. “I tried to cut back but I got a hit... Not a great way to start the day — I need to take another look.”

Norris said: “There’s not a lot I could do. I was taken out and that was it.”

- Verstappen’s perfect start -

On a hot day in Austin, Verstappen made a perfect start to lead away up the hill into Turn One.

The accident behind him was caused by Hulkenberg tagging Piastri who was lifted airborne into Norris’s car.

For McLaren and their duelling title-chasers, it was a disastrous start and gifted Verstappen an opportunity to make a substantial cut into Piastri’s championship lead.

Hulkenberg lost his front wing as he progressed, leaving debris across the track, with Fernando Alonso also retiring his Aston Martin due to a puncture.

The contest resumed after five controlled laps behind the safety car, of the 19 in total, with Verstappen surging away, chased by Russell.

Sainz continued to hang on in third for Williams with the two Ferraris breathing down his neck.

On lap eight, Russell made a dive down the inside at Turn 12 in an attempt to pass Verstappen, but succeeded only in ensuring both slid off before rejoining.

Behind them, a lap later, Hamilton executed a perfect move to pass Leclerc for fourth and then resist his fightback.

Verstappen stayed in control, but complained that his car was imperfect.

He held on to a 2.4-second lead while Sainz battled to resist Hamilton’s pace before a second safety car intervention.

That came when Lance Stroll speared his Aston Martin into Esteban Ocon’s Haas inside Turn One, prompting the flags that curtailed the final laps.

LONDON: Arsenal moved three points clear at the top of the Premier League as Leandro Trossard sealed a 1-0 win against Fulham on Saturday.
Belgian forward Trossard bagged his first league goal this season in the second half at Craven Cottage.
That was enough to clinch Arsenal’s fifth successive victory in all competitions and extend their unbeaten run to eight games.
Arsenal were installed as the bookmakers’ favorites to win the Premier League after Liverpool’s two successive defeats knocked the champions out of pole position.
Manchester City’s 2-0 win against Everton earlier on Saturday had taken them briefly above Mikel Arteta’s side into first place.
But the north Londoners regained top spot with an efficient if unspectacular performance by the banks of the River Thames.
“It is a really tough place to come. We have experienced that in the last few years. We put a lot into it. We had some giveaways in the first half, but we became more dominant throughout the game,” Arteta said.
“They have been together for many years, so they know how to adapt.”
Arsenal have won six of their eight league matches this season as they chase a first English title since 2004.
Fulham threatened an early opener when Harry Wilson’s reverse pass reached Raul Jimenez, but the Mexican’s effort was pushed away by Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya.
Pouncing on a misplaced pass by Gabriel Magalhaes, Wilson went close with a curler that flashed just past the far post.
Riccardo Calafiori thought he had given Arsenal the lead against the run of play, but the defender’s sweet strike was disallowed for offside after a VAR check.
Wilson almost squeezed a low drive past Raya from the edge of the area before Josh King’s cross forced the ‘keeper to tip the ball over his bar.
Running onto Bukayo Saka’s pass, Viktor Gyokeres was denied by a good save from Fulham ‘keeper Bernd Leno as the Arsenal striker’s goal drought reached seven games.
Calafiori volleyed over from 18 yards and Declan Rice drilled wide on the stroke of half-time.
Trossard’s wayward shot from close-range was followed by a goal-line clearance from Timothy Castagne moments later as Arsenal’s frustration mounted.
Arteta’s men nearly paid for those misses when Wilson lashed a fierce volley narrowly over.
But Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger, a noted Arsenal fan, was watching from the stands and the Gunners finally got some satisfaction in the 58th minute.
Arsenal’s set-piece prowess proved decisive as Gabriel flicked on Saka’s corner and Trossard converted from close range.
Arsenal have now scored 37 goals from corners in the Premier League since the start of the 2023-24 campaign.
The momentum was with the Gunners and Saka slalomed through the Fulham defense for a shot that forced Leno into a smart stop.
Arsenal were denied a penalty when Kevin’s challenge on Saka was initially ruled a foul before referee Anthony Taylor had to overturn his decision after VAR showed the Brazilian’s tackle made contact with the ball.
Gyokeres scored 97 times in 102 matches for Sporting Lisbon, but the Swede has just three goals for his new club.
His travails showed no signs of ending as he smashed over with the goal at his mercy, then fired straight at Leno, but Arsenal had already done enough to boost their title charge.