Verstappen rules, Mercedes need to do better in ‘strategic games’

DPA Austin (Texas) One of the best Formula One title battles in years was summed up by an enthralling United States Grand Prix on Sunday, where Red Bull’s ...

DPAAustin (Texas)One of the best Formula One title battles in years was summed up by an enthralling United States Grand Prix on Sunday, where Red Bull’s Max Verstappen just kept Lewis Hamilton at bay mainly thanks to strategy.Just five races remain, starting in Mexico in two weeks, and Mercedes must find a way to get the upper hand again if Hamilton is to become the only F1 driver with eight world championships to his name.The British veteran did his job by overtaking the Dutch polesitter on the first corner at the Circuit of the Americas but Red Bull hit back with an “aggressive” early pit stop which undercut the Mercedes.Verstappen clung on for victory after Mercedes held out as long as they could for a second stop, sending Hamilton out on much fresher tyres which almost helped him catch his rival on the line.Instead it was Red Bull’s gamble which ultimately paid off and left a lasting impression with Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff.“This really was a race of interesting strategic games and great battles,” he said.“We thought we had a sniff at the victory with Lewis and he put in a brilliant charge in the final laps, but in the end it wasn’t enough.In the first stint, the car wasn’t quick enough on the medium (tyres).” Hamilton was philosophical and knows there are still many points available as he tries to deny Verstappen a first title.“The start was obviously great and closing the gap towards the end, but I got into the dirty air and the tyres overheated in the last few laps,” Hamilton said.“Thank you to the team for amazing pit stops and so much hard work over the weekend. We didn’t quite get it this time, but we’ll move onto the next one.” That next one will be special for Red Bull’s other driver Sergio Perez, who heads home to Mexico having done well to finish third in Austin after his drinks bottle failed in the cockpit amid soaring temperatures.The circus surrounding him at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City may take some of the pressure off Verstappen as he looks to extend his 12-point advantage over Hamilton.Red Bull boss Christian Horner said: “It’s five to go now, and we know that there are a couple of races where Mercedes will have the edge and a couple where we will be strong, so the rest of the season is going to be really tight.”