If anyone thought the Formula 1 World Championship was already decided, the 2025 United States Grand Prix arrived to prove them wrong. The Circuit of the Americas in Texas hosted one of the most tense and strategic races of the season, completely redefining the math behind the title fight.

It wasn’t just a race; it was a warning shot. With only five rounds remaining, Formula 1 has transformed into a “marathon at a sprint pace,” where a single corner can cost a championship.

If you missed the action or want to understand the nuances the TV cameras missed, buckle up. Here is the full X-ray of what happened in the 19th round of the World Championship.

The Return of the King: Verstappen Sets the Pace

Max Verstappen arrived in Texas with a clear mission: stop the bleeding of points and reaffirm his dominance. And he did exactly that.

From the moment the red lights went out, the Dutchman showed why he is the reigning champion. With an aggressive start, he immediately cut to the inside line, denying his rivals any chance and seizing the lead.

Verstappen’s performance was described as “imperious.” He didn’t just win; he controlled the chaos. Crossing the finish line in first place did more than secure the trophy; it reignited the dream of a fifth consecutive world championship. That once-comfortable lead, which had plummeted, has now found a vital second wind.

The Nervous Battle for P2: Norris vs. Leclerc

While Max disappeared into the horizon, the real war was waging just behind him. The fight for second place between Lando Norris (McLaren) and Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) was the highlight of the entertainment in Austin.

High-Speed Chess

Leclerc, capitalizing on the superior traction of his soft tires, jumped to P2 at the start, mastering the outside line. It looked like Ferrari had control, but Lando Norris had other plans.

What we saw in the following laps was a duel of patience and precision:

• The Pressure: Norris spent a significant portion of the race “sniffing” the Ferrari’s exhaust, reducing the gap to a mere 3/10ths of a second.

• The Crucial Move: After several frustrated attempts and nearly going off track at Turn 13, Norris found the courage he needed. In a maneuver described as “crucial,” he utilized the outside line, braked late, and in a move reminiscent of a “handbrake turn,” kept the car within limits to snatch the position.

It was a decisive moment. Norris didn’t just surpass Leclerc; he sent a clear message: he isn’t giving up on the title without a fight.

Midfield Drama: The End of the Dream for Sainz

Formula 1 isn’t just about glory. The weekend, which promised to be brilliant for Carlos Sainz, ended in heartbreak on lap seven.

Sainz attempted an aggressive overtake on the inside—his trademark move—against Kimi Antonelli. The young driver, apparently not seeing the Ferrari, closed the door. Contact was inevitable: Antonelli was spat into the barriers, and Sainz was forced to retire. A melancholic end for a driver who had been showing incredibly strong pace.

Other incidents marked the race, such as Alex Albon being shuffled to the back of the grid after touching Gabriel Bortoleto, and Yuki Tsunoda spinning after an overly optimistic contact from Ollie Bearman.

The Championship Math: The Scenario Has Shifted

Here is where things get truly interesting for those who love stats and drama.

Verstappen’s victory combined with Norris’s second-place finish has created an explosive scenario for the final five races.

• The leader’s advantage, which at one point in the season stood at 104 points, is now down to just 40 points.

• Norris has reduced his personal deficit to just 14 points in the direct fight.

The Marathon Analogy

We can summarize the championship now as follows: imagine a marathon where the leader sprinted early, thinking victory was certain. Suddenly, in the final miles, the chasers (Verstappen and Norris) found a frightening “second wind.” The margin for error is now zero.

What to Expect from the Next Rounds?

The 2025 US GP proved that McLaren’s consistency and Verstappen’s individual brilliance are on a collision course. Ferrari is running on the outside, ready to capitalize on any mistake, as we almost saw with their “don’t fight” strategy between drivers to maximize points.

With 40 points separating the top and five races to go, the question is no longer “who will win,” but rather “who will blink first?”

And you, what did you think of Lando Norris’s move on Leclerc? Too risky or the mark of a champion? Leave your opinion in the comments below!