How Verstappen held off Hamilton in the 2021 US Grand Prix

Max Verstappen won the 2021 United States Grand Prix by holding off Lewis Hamilton, extending his championship lead from six points to twelve. Hamilton had taken the lead at the start and was on hard tyres eight laps fresher in the closing phase.

Verstappen started from pole at Circuit of The Americas, but Hamilton got ahead at the start. Both teams planned two stops on medium, hard and hard tyres. Red Bull went early: the undercut put Verstappen back in front, and a second stop on lap 29 secured the position.

Mercedes chose the opposite timing, leaving Hamilton out longer and stopping on laps 14 and 37. In 2021, Austin was considered a Mercedes and Hamilton stronghold, giving Verstappen's victory extra significance in the title fight.

Analysis: The strategic contest was a trade-off between track position and tyre age. Red Bull's early undercut put Verstappen back in front, while Mercedes' later stops gave Hamilton fresher tyres. Hamilton spent part of that advantage closing the gap, and turbulence and rising temperatures made overtaking difficult at Austin. The eight-lap difference sharpened the chase, but did not outweigh Verstappen's position at the front.