Max Verstappen secured the 50th victory of his Formula 1 career with a first-place finish at Sunday's U.S. Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.
It only took him 181 races to reach the milestone.
ESPN F1 @ESPNF1Max Verstappen becomes the second-fastest driver ever to reach 50 career wins in F1 🏆<br><br>Michael Schumacher is the only driver to reach that milestone in fewer races 🐐 <a href="">
This podium win wasn't as clear-cut a victory for the Red Bull driver as past wins, however. Long-time rival Lewis Hamilton finished the final lap within three seconds of Verstappen.
However, Formula 1 announced on Sunday night that Hamilton and Charles Leclerc were disqualified for a technical infringement. Those disqualifications moved Lando Norris to second and Carlos Sainz to third.
Formula 1 @F1RACE CLASSIFICATION (LAP 56/56)<br><br>Verstappen takes the chequered flag for the 15th time this season<a href="">#F1</a> <a href="">#USGP</a> <a href="">
Heading into the race, Verstappen was a favorite to win after securing his third consecutive World Drivers' Championship title and 14th Grand Prix title of 2023 in Qatar earlier this month, even given his sixth-place start.
At Turn 1, however, it was Norris in the lead. Norris was racing in his 100th career Grand Prix, and his hot start earned excitement from fans hoping for Norris' first career win in the landmark race.
Formula 1 @F1⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️<br>⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️<br><br>LIGHTS OUT IN AUSTIN!!!<br><br>The perfect start for Lando Norris! The McLaren driver leads into Turn 1 🤩<a href="">#F1</a> <a href="">#USGP</a> <a href="">
andy @iiiuminateandyme pretending to be a formula 1 car so i can go on track and block everyone from overtaking lando norris <a href="">
TheCheckeredF1ag @checkeredf1agMe planning how I'm going to keep lando norris in the lead from my couch <a href="">#landonorris</a> <a href="">#McLaren</a> <a href="">#AustinGP</a> <a href="">#USAGP</a> <a href="">#F1</a> <a href="">#Formula1</a> <a href="">
Norris couldn't hold onto the lead past the 28th lap, where he was overtaken by Verstappen.
Formula 1 @F1LAP 28/56 <br><br>Norris fights all he can but Verstappen will not be denied <a href="">#F1</a> <a href="">#USGP</a> <a href="">
Pits from Verstappen and Norris allowed Hamilton to take the lead past Leclerc with 20 laps remaining.
Hasan Özsoy @OzsoyHasanVerstappen or Hamilton. Like old good days. <a href="">#F1</a> <a href="">#USGP</a>
JM @joshm88_Mercedes are trying to emulate Verstappen's strategy of last year's <a href="">#USGP</a> with Hamilton.<br><br>We can only watch and hope they are able to pull it off! 🙏 <a href="">#F1</a>
Verstappen will walk away with his 15th win of 2023, tying the record he set last season. He will have four more chances to set a new standard for the most victories in one F1 season, starting with the Mexican Grand Prix on October 30.
