After weeks of dismissing any notion of a Formula 1 world title bid, even Max Verstappen couldn't play down the truth any longer after winning the United States Grand Prix that a fifth consecutive world championship is there for the taking.
Red Bull's resurgence over the past two months, while McLaren's performance has stalled and its drivers got caught up in various incidents, has seen Verstappen become the dominant force once more, clawing another 23 points out of Piastri's lead in at the US GP - just like he did in Baku.
