MAX VERSTAPPEN and Lewis Hamilton are doing battle in the US Grand Prix. Hamilton is being told not to go full throttle immediately – he doesn’t want to wreck these tyres straight away. Verstappen needs to get past the cars in front as soon as possible. And that could be a problem for Verstappen as he gets held up with Hamilton closing in. Hamilton’s lead is 13.7 seconds and is cutting every lap – how long will Mercedes leave it before they give him fresher tyres?. Verstappen is flying right now and goes 1.315 seconds later than Hamilton on Lap 34. “This is very finely balanced, it’s about the next few laps.”. He has come in for the second stop of the race and he comes out more than 17 seconds behind Hamilton. Verstappen has mentioned he is struggling a little with his back tyres. Hamilton is breathing down his neck and the gap is 3.4 seconds now. Hamilton’s tyres are three laps fresher than Verstappen’s – and that is crucial. Verstappen also has the fastest lap and Hamilton is 6.7 seconds behind. Hamilton still for 2.8 seconds… but that is enough for Verstappen to get the undercut.

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