Max Verstappen wins US GP, increases championship lead over reigning F1 champion Lewis Hamilton

Max Verstappen held off Lewis Hamilton to win the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas on Sunday and increase his lead over the Mercedes man at the top of the drivers' championship standings.

Hamilton had passed pole-sitter Verstappen at the start of the opening lap, but the Red Bull driver made an early pit stop and reclaimed the lead when his title rival came in for fresh tyres.

Verstappen also led after the second round of pit stops and the Dutchman kept a charging Hamilton at bay in the final laps to claim his eighth win of the season.

Hamilton now has a 12-point gap to make up in the remaining five rounds of the season if he is to collect a record eighth world title this year.

Verstappen's team-mate Sergio Perez completed the podium places, finishing ahead of Charles LeClerc and Daniel Ricciardo in fourth and fifth respectively.

Valtteri Bottas in the second Mercedes had to settle for sixth.