Four-time defending world champion Max Verstappen made a decisive move in his hunt for the F1 title as he dominated the United States Grand Prix with a wire-to-wire victory.
Verstappen entered the weekend as a long-shot to win a fifth consecutive title, behind McLaren front-runners Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris.
However, Verstappen's dominating win in the race following a sprint victory where neither McLaren finished put the Red Bull driver firmly in contention to match Michael Schumacher's historic five-peat (2000-04).
“It was an unbelievable weekend for us,” Verstappen said on the podium at the Circuit of the Americas. “I knew that the race was, of course, not going to be super straightforward. I think if you look at the whole race, the pace between myself and Lando was really close. I think just in that first stint, that's where we made the difference.
“I could eke out a little bit of a gap and that's basically what we kept till the end. It wasn't easy to manage the tires for most of the stints, but we kept it in the lead and just incredibly proud of everyone to deliver a weekend like this.”
Norris finished second after winning a race-long tussle with Charles Leclerc in the closing stages as the British driver reduced teammate Piastri's championship lead to 14 points after the Australian finished only fifth.
Verstappen's 33 points from the weekend mean he has reduced his own deficit to Piastri to 40 points – from 63.
Piastri will have the most to ponder ahead of Mexico next weekend, having been beaten by both Norris and Verstappen in each of the last four races.
Leclerc claimed third with Lewis Hamilton fourth on an improved day for Ferrari as George Russell finished sixth for Mercedes.
And for the first time this season, Verstappen has the world title clearly in his sights.
“For sure, the chance is there,” Verstappen said of the title battle. “We just need to try to deliver these weekends until the end.
“We will try whatever we can. It's exciting,” he added after his third win in the last four races and 68th of his career.
Piastri said he still had full confidence in his ability to become Australia's first champion since Alan Jones in 1980.
“I'd still rather be where I am than the other two,” added the 24-year-old.
If Verstappen were to come out on top, it would be an unprecedented turnaround even taking into account changed scoring systems.
“I think watching Max driving is watching history in the making,” Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies said.
“He surprises us every time he goes out on track. He surprises us on how much he's pushing us between a session and another, how much sensitivity he has in stuff that sometimes we can see and stuff that sometimes we cannot see.”
Sauber principal Jonathan Wheatley, who was previously Red Bull's team manager and sporting director, agreed that Verstappen could make the impossible possible.
“You can never write Max Verstappen off. What an unbelievable, dominant weekend from Max,” the Briton told reporters. “It's a pleasure to watch.
“Max Verstappen is perhaps the best driver in the world … if I was McLaren I'd be looking in my rear view mirrors.”
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella, meanwhile, said the team should relish the chance to fight for a drivers championship.
“It is a privilege to be there, we have the pace to be there. It is about execution, believing in it and we do believe,” Stella said. “We never want to lose the joy of doing that. The tension is part of the game.”
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Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
THE POPE'S ITINERARY
Sunday, February 3, 2019 - Rome to Abu Dhabi
1pm: departure by plane from Rome / Fiumicino to Abu Dhabi
10pm: arrival at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
Monday, February 4
12pm: welcome ceremony at the main entrance of the Presidential Palace
12.20pm: visit Abu Dhabi Crown Prince at Presidential Palace
5pm: private meeting with Muslim Council of Elders at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
6.10pm: Inter-religious in the Founder's Memorial
Tuesday, February 5 - Abu Dhabi to Rome
9.15am: private visit to undisclosed cathedral
10.30am: public mass at Zayed Sports City – with a homily by Pope Francis
12.40pm: farewell at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
1pm: departure by plane to Rome
5pm: arrival at the Rome / Ciampino International Airport
The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
Profile of Whizkey
Date founded: 04 November 2017
Founders: Abdulaziz AlBlooshi and Harsh Hirani
Based: Dubai, UAE
Number of employees: 10
Sector: AI, software
Cashflow: Dh2.5 Million
Funding stage: Series A
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
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Visit Abu Dhabi culinary team's top Emirati restaurants in Abu Dhabi
Yadoo’s House Restaurant & Cafe
For the karak and Yoodo's house platter with includes eggs, balaleet, khamir and chebab bread.
Golden Dallah
For the cappuccino, luqaimat and aseeda.
Al Mrzab Restaurant
For the shrimp murabian and Kuwaiti options including Kuwaiti machboos with kebab and spicy sauce.
Al Derwaza
For the fish hubul, regag bread, biryani and special seafood soup.
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David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
Pupils in Abu Dhabi are learning the importance of being active, eating well and leading a healthy lifestyle now and throughout adulthood, thanks to a newly launched programme 'Healthy Lifestyle'.
As part of the Healthy Lifestyle programme, specially trained coaches from City Football Schools, along with Healthpoint physicians have visited schools throughout Abu Dhabi to give fun and interactive lessons on working out regularly, making the right food choices, getting enough sleep and staying hydrated, just like their favourite footballers.
Organised by Manchester City FC and Healthpoint, Manchester City FC’s regional healthcare partner and part of Mubadala’s healthcare network, the ‘Healthy Lifestyle’ programme will visit 15 schools, meeting around 1,000 youngsters over the next five months.
Designed to give pupils all the information they need to improve their diet and fitness habits at home, at school and as they grow up, coaches from City Football Schools will work alongside teachers to lead the youngsters through a series of fun, creative and educational classes as well as activities, including playing football and other games.
Dr Mai Ahmed Al Jaber, head of public health at Healthpoint, said: “The programme has different aspects - diet, exercise, sleep and mental well-being. By having a focus on each of those and delivering information in a way that children can absorb easily it can help to address childhood obesity."
Who is Ramon Tribulietx?
Born in Spain, Tribulietx took sole charge of Auckland in 2010 and has gone on to lead the club to 14 trophies, including seven successive Oceania Champions League crowns. Has been tipped for the vacant New Zealand national team job following Anthony Hudson's resignation last month. Had previously been considered for the role.
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