Max Verstappen has emerged victorious at the United States Grand Prix, edging out Lewis Hamilton in a thrilling climax in Texas.
Despite starting on pole, championship leader Verstappen was arguably the underdog as he went head-to-head with a rival who has had huge success on this track.
However, the Dutchman overcame the frustration of being passed on the opening few corners to withstand fierce pressure from Hamilton after the final round of pit stops.
Having pitted first, Verstappen was on significantly older tyres as Hamilton closed the gap, but the British driver could not get his Mercedes to within less than a second of the frontrunner.
That proved crucial as it prevented DRS from being enabled, and it allowed Verstappen to record what could be one of the most important triumphs of his career.
Sergio Perez made up the last position on the podium, earning Red Bull some crucial points in the Constructors' Championship with Valtteri Bottas only finishing in sixth spot.
Verstappen holds a 12-point advantage over Hamilton with five races remaining, while Red Bull are now just 23 points adrift of Mercedes in the Constructors' standings.
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc crossed the line in fourth position, with Daniel Ricciardo and Lando Norris in fifth and eighth place respectively in the McLaren.
Darren Plant
