MAX VERSTAPPEN showed Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri they have bigger fish to fry than their ‘papaya rules’ if they are to win a world title.
The four-time world champion dominated from start to finish in Texas as he continues to defend his title with his life.
Less than two months ago Verstappen was a whopping 104 points back.
But he left Austin yesterday suddenly just 40 points behind table-topper Oscar Piastri.
Norris made a bold late overtake move on Charles Leclerc to seal second and a crucial extra three points with five rounds remaining.
Meanwhile Piastri finished the race in fifth, behind Lewis Hamilton, and is now only 14 points ahead of Norris in the driver’s standings.
Verstappen made it look easy on a weekend where McLaren’s ‘Papaya rules’, which state no contact between the teammates were breached again, like in Singapore.
Piastri was in no man’s land for most of the race and knocked himself and Norris out the sprint race with a blooper at turn one of the first lap.
Verstappen could have said ‘hold my beer’ when he secured pole in qualifying by only recording one time after not making it to the start line in time for his flying lap.
It was job done for Verstappen at the start yesterday as he bulldozed ahead, while Leclerc zipped ahead of Lando Norris for second on the soft tyres.
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There was a glimmer of hope for Piastri who had immediately gained a place, overtaking George Russell on the exit of the corner.
Hamilton also went ahead of Russell and ran fourth in the second Ferrari.
Verstappen opened an early lead and could sit back and relax with him able to preserve his tyres.
Norris was trying to attack Leclerc but couldn’t find a way and needed to find a breakthrough soon or risk costing himself a lot of time to Verstappen as the Dutchman set a new fastest lap.
The virtual safety car came out as Kimi Antonelli was hit by Carlos Sainz and ground to a halt near the pit lane before retiring from the race.
Mercedes youngster Antonelli fumed “what an idiot” on his team radio.
When the flag went back to green, it took only a lap for Verstappen to stretch his lead to Leclerc to a cushty three seconds.
On lap 15 there was a tasty battle between Leclerc and Norris for second, but the Ferrari defended expertly to swat away the McLaren.
Meanwhile Norris’ teammate Piastri was being held up and was dropping back from the podium battle due to tyre wear issues.
There was a nervy moment for Brit Norris when he was then hit with another track limits violation with over 40 laps to go and teetering on the edge of a time penalty.
Norris was all over Leclerc again but the Monegasque driver slammed shut the door, as the Brit was slapped with another track limits violation.
Finally the 25-year-old sealed the deal on lap 21 and went into second and scampering off to find Verstappen.
Leclerc then had teammate Hamilton for company, with the pair coming perilously close with wheel-to-wheel contact as they dueled for third.
Leclerc stayed ahead – but then immediately headed to the pits to change his softs for mediums, with Hamilton moving into third and the podium places.
Championship leader Piastri pitted before Hamilton, Norris and Verstappen followed suit as the top three reshuffled to Leclerc and Norris behind Verstappen.
Piastri was seven seconds behind Hamilton and making no inroads while Russell was closing in on him.
McLaren chief executive Zak Brown was glum, from the pitwall, saying: “Not great. Had we got past Leclerc earlier on, maybe we would have given Max a race but we didn’t. Verstappen is out of reach.”
Leclerc was tasked with keeping Norris at arm’s length again, as the Brit ramped up the pace in the dying laps.
It really was the last chance saloon for the 25-year-old who narrowed the gap to just 1.3 seconds.
Norris finally got within DRS range and a lap later he dived past him but Leclerc ducked back underneath with a peach of a move.
The Brit finally had the cojones to nip back ahead and take second on lap 51 with an aggressive overtake while Verstappen flew to a statement victory, eight seconds ahead.
The Dutchman said: “It was an unbelievable weekend for us. I knew the race would not be super straightforward.
“It wasn’t easy to manage the tyres in both of the stints. We kept it in the lead and I’m incredibly proud of everyone to deliver a weekend like this.”
He also believes the run in for the Drivers’ championship is still on, saying: “The chance is there. We just need to try and deliver these weekends until the end.
“We will try whatever we can. It’s exciting and I’m very excited until the end.”
