"Obviously it's a very difficult weekend for us and we dedicate it to Dietrich. The only thing we could do today was win," reacted hotly the double world champion.

Two weeks after his coronation at Suzuka, in daunting conditions due to rain, the Dutchman beat Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) and Monegasque Charles Leclerc (Ferrari).

"We didn't go far, I gave it my all guys," said the seven-time British world champion who will wait to clinch his first victory of the season.

Carlos Sainz Jr (Ferrari), who started from pole position, retired after a few hectometres, after missing his start, hit at the first corner by Briton George Russell (Mercedes).

Verstappen took the opportunity to equal the record of 13 wins in a season, co-owned by Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel.

A remarkable performance, nevertheless to be put into perspective because, in their time, the two Germans had fewer races on the calendar (18 and 19 against 22).

The Red Bull of Dutchman Max Verstappen precedes the Mercedes of Briton Lewis Hamilton during the United States Grand Prix in Austin (Texas) on October 23, 2022. Jim WATSON AFP

The fact remains that the domination of "Super Max" is more than ever overwhelming in this 2022 financial year and it has three more events, in Mexico, Brazil and then Abu Dhabi, to establish a new benchmark.

"Pretty, pretty"

His second consecutive victory on the bumpy Circuit of the Americas was not easy, however.

So in the lead, a turning point in the 36th of the 56 laps added suspense to the race, when his tire change lasted for a long time (11.1 seconds).

When he left the pits, behind Charles Leclerc, who entered just after him but was quicker to get out, the angry Dutchman launched a bitter "pretty, pretty" on the radio, addressed to his mechanics.

"It was difficult. Everything seemed to be going well but the pit stop was longer than expected," he confirmed afterwards.

Down in 5th position, the Dutchman took it twice to overtake the Monegasque.

And with six laps to go, he passed Hamilton, to win a race otherwise marked by the crash on lap 22 of Fernando Alonso, who slammed into the rear of Lance Stroll, his Alpine even seeming to take off after his wheels before had climbed onto the rear axle of the Aston Martin.

Spanish driver Carlos Sainz Jr (Ferrari) spins shortly after the start of the United States Formula One Grand Prix in Austin (Texas) on October 23, 2022. Jim WATSON AFP

Finally back on the ground, the Spaniard pitted and was able to resume the race - unlike the Canadian, who hit the wall - to finish 7th!

Verstappen's success gave Red Bull the 5th constructors' title in its history, the first since 2013 and 17 years after the first, crowning an almost total domination this season, since the team now has 15 victories in 19 events, Ferrari picking up leftovers.

Tribute to Mateschitz

One only had to see the eyes filled with tears of his boss Christian Horner, to understand that mixed feelings crossed the stable, orphan of its owner Dietrich Mateschitz, who died at 78 on Saturday.

"It's a very emotional moment, a great moment for the team and for everyone at Red Bull - a tribute to Dietrich for all he has done. God bless him," he said. .

Under these conditions, it is useless to wait from Red Bull for an announcement as to whether it was going to accept the sanction proposal formulated Thursday by the International Automobile Federation (FIA,) which pinned it for exceeding the budget cap last season.

Spectators attend the United States Formula One Grand Prix on October 23, 2022 in Austin (Texas).

Jim WATSON AFP

It was time to celebrate despite everything, in front of some 440,000 fans gathered around the circuit of the Americas, a record.

Proof that the popularity of F1 in the United States is also confirmed in the sphere of celebrities of all kinds, musicians Ed Sheeran and Pharrell Williams, newly retired tennis player Serena Williams, former NBA star Shaquille O' Neal, wandered around the grid before the start.

Actor Brad Pitt, too, came all weekend to observe life in the paddock, with a view to a film on F1, with Lewis Hamilton in production and which will be shot at certain Grands Prix in 2023.

© 2022 AFP