Max Verstappen is also unbeatable in the fourth sprint race of the Formula 1 season. The Dutchman in the Red Bull wins in Austin ahead of Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) and Lando Norris (McLaren).
Verstappen thus returned to winning ways on the Texas circuit after a drought of almost four months. His last triumph - also in a sprint race - dated back to June 29 in Spielberg, Austria.
This was the Dutchman's eleventh win in the shortened distance test. So far, 16 races have been held in this format, which was introduced in 2021.
Norris drops back on the last lap
For a long time, it looked as if Briton Norris, who had started from fourth position - brilliantly for once - would take second place. But on the 19th and final lap, the runner-up in the McLaren was overtaken by the Spaniard Sainz.
As a result, Verstappen increased his lead in the overall standings by two points to 54 ahead of the main race in Austin.
The US Grand Prix starts on Sunday at 21:00 Swiss time. The three-time world champion in the Red Bull is hoping that his unusually long winless streak over the GP distance in Texas will come to an end.
There were no points for the Sauber team drivers in the USA either. Chinese driver Zhou Guanyu was only 19th and Finn Valtteri Bottas 20th and last.