Max Verstappen wins 8th season race at COTA

Max Verstappen emerged victorious in the US GP 2021, extending his lead at the top of the F1 charts by earning 25 points. The Dutchman had started in pole position after earning the same in the qualifying race, and fended off competition from rival Lewis Hamilton to win his 8th race of the current season. 

Verstappen leads Hamilton by 12 points with five races remaining in the season. The British racer finished second, right behind Verstappen, and earned 19 points. The final 18 laps saw Hamilton compete with Verstappen at a very close margin, but the 24-year-old managed to power through and emerged as the winner of the race. 

Hamilton is on the hunt for an eighth F1 championship that will see him go past Michael Schumacher. However, he is being challenged very strongly by Verstappen. And right now, Verstappen is the favourite to win the championship at the end of the season. 

The Circuit of the Americas race was cancelled last year due to the pandemic, but returned this year with 140,000 fans in attendance to see the race. Verstappen was also voted the driver of the day by the F1 fans, for his impeccable tire management in the middle of a very heated contest. 

Sergio Perez of Red Bull finished in third place, and was followed by Charles Leclerc and Daniel Ricciardo. The championship race will continue when F1 holds its next event in Mexico City, and subsequently, in the Middle East.