Max Verstappen ended a four-month losing streak by taking a pole-to-flag victory in the sprint race ahead of Sunday’s US Grand Prix.

The world champion bagged all eight points to extend his lead to 54, arresting a slump dating back to his last win in Barcelona in June. 

His title rival Lando Norris was passed on the final lap to finish third behind Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz – a real setback as the Briton carried too much speed into the first corner.

Clearly, Norris’ McLaren is no longer the cream of the crop as it has been in recent months, and he only just held on to his podium place under attack from Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari.

Red Bull’s upgrade package, in contrast, clearly worked in an ominous warning to Norris’ hopes of ending the season in Abu Dhabi in December as champion. 

Norris has struggled for good starts this season, but he seems to have banished that hoodoo judging by his expert getaway from fourth on the grid. 

Getting a tow from George Russell’s Mercedes, he hugged the apex of the first bend to wriggle into second place.

Verstappen was out of range, having moved left to cover off any potential attack as he launched his car up the steep, fan-lined bank.

There is a total of 172 points still to be fought over.

Norris was under pressure from Russell but managed to shrug off the threat. Verstappen was 1.4sec ahead after nine of the 19 laps and by 3.8sec at the end.

A reasonably eventful race saw the two Ferraris going at each other within a few feet of danger.

Sainz ultimately won the tussle and went on to pass Russell by the midway point for third place. 

Charles Leclerc also passed Russell to move into fourth, where he finished.

Russell finished fifth and Lewis Hamilton sixth.