Verstappen seeks Texan triumph to extend lead

AUSTIN: Max Verstappen will seek to beat Lewis Hamilton in one of the defending champion’s favourite backyards this weekend to realise his own American dream and consolidate his lead in the Formula One drivers’ world championship.

Having finished fourth, third and second, but never won at the Circuit of the Americas, the Dutchman is aiming to claim a maiden Texan triumph to extend his six-point advantage with six races to go.

“We have always been competitive in the US and have got close to some good results — so it’s about converting that into a win now,” he said. “We go to every track knowing we can fight for a podium at least, but also a win — and that is different to past years.

“We are focused on doing the best we can and always trying to win and it will be no different in Austin. It’ll be another close battle and I am looking forward to it.”

Verstappen and his Red Bull team know, however, that Mercedes have enjoyed a dominant run of results since the inaugural race in 2012, when

Hamilton recorded the first of his five wins in the eight races to date.

Of the remaining three, his team-mate Valtteri Bottas was victorious once, in the last event held in 2019, while Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel won in 2013 and Kimi Raikkonen in 2018.

That statistical evidence, added to the way Mercedes bounced back in the last two contests in Russia and Turkey, with one win apiece for Hamilton and Bottas, suggests the Honda-powered team will have their work cut out this weekend.

“It was encouraging to see our momentum continue last time out in Turkey,” said the Silver Arrows’ team chief Toto Wolff.

“We haven’t scored back-toback race wins in a little while so naturally spirits have been high in the factories.

“It was a dominant performance from Valtteri in tricky conditions, taking his first win of the season — a faultless drive. He was in control from the start and it’s a great boost to him and the team.”