Andrew Benson
BBC F1 correspondent in Austin

Image source, Getty Images

McLaren team-mates and title rivals Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris crashed out of the United States Grand Prix sprint race in a collision just after the start.

Piastri bounced into Norris after clipping the Sauber of Nico Hulkenberg, taking both McLarens out of the race. Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso was also taken out by the incident.

The incident happened during a weekend in which McLaren's attempts to keep a lid on the tension between their drivers and let them race has been the focus of attention.

The race was won by Red Bull's Max Verstappen after a brief fight with Mercedes' George Russell. Williams' Carlos Sainz held off Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton for third.

Read the full report here

Image source, Getty Images

George Russell and Carlos Sainz stand next to winner Max Verstappen to form the top three drivers in the Austin sprint race. Did anyone predict this trio before the 19 laps?

Penny for thoughts of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris? The screens are up over at McLaren and the team are getting to work in the garage repairing any damage to the two team-mates' cars.

The good news is everyone can reset now and start afresh for qualifying. Q1 gets under way at 22:00 BST, so come back and join us for build-up at 21:30 BST.

See you shortly!

With both McLarens taken out early in that sprint race and scoring a big fat zero points, Max Verstappen is now 55 points behind leader Oscar Piastri and 25 off second-placed Lando Norris in the drivers' championship with six races to go.

Another (sort of) podium for Carlos Sainz moves the Spaniard into the top 10, one point behind Isack hadjar in ninth.

1. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) - 336

2. Lando Norris (McLaren) - 314

3. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) - 281

4. George Russell (Mercedes) - 244

5. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) - 177

6. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) - 130

7. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) - 89

8. Alex Albon (Williams) - 73

9. Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) - 39

10. Carlos Sainz (Williams) - 38

Image source, Getty Images

The media pen in Austin is packed with people wanting to hear the thoughts of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri after the madness of the sprint start.

McLaren CEO Zak Brown tells Sky Sports some of the driving at the front was "amateur hour", adding: "I want to see the replay again, but clearly Nico [Hulkenberg] drove into Oscar and he had no business being where he was."

Norris has given some more insight into the contact: "I just got hit, right? I did nothing wrong. Further back things happened and I just got unlucky and got hit because of it.

"I need to look a bit more carefully. It’s more people further back just being a bit careless and we are the consequence of that."

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella on the racing incident between his two drivers: "The reaction is that we are disappointed that we didn't have the possibility to race today. The first corner incident took both cars out if the race. It's surprising that some drivers with a lot of experience don't act with justful prudence. Go to the first corner, make sure you don't damage competitors and carry on.

"Overall disappointed but we take it on the chin, we are now focusing on repairing the cars, there is a lot to do and then we will restart the weekend from there. I think we are in a strong position from our competitiveness point of view so I hope we have the possibility to race, race normally and capitalise on our performance.

"The points are the most important thing, I don't want to talk about malintent, just prudence. A little more prudence would be good for everyone.

"I think the implication is what the maths says, we lost eight points with both drivers, but we focus on ourselves. we have a very competitive car and two strong drivers. We look forward to just some normal racing."

Andrew Benson
BBC F1 correspondent in Austin

Image source, Reuters

Oscar Piastri made a better start than Lando Norris and initially moved to attack his team-mate on the outside as they approached the first corner with its wide, uphill entry.

The Australian then went for the inside in the hope of getting the cutback on Norris, but in doing so his left rear wheel caught the right front of Nico Hulkenberg's car.

That launched Piastri into the air and as he bounced back on to the track, he collected Norris. The Briton was out on the spot while Piastri limped on for a few corners further before pulling off.

Fernando Alonso was one of the drivers caught up in the Turn One mess - the Spaniard was sixth for lights out and made a good start at COTA.

The Aston Martin driver was on the inside of the corner and was hit by the Sauber of Nico Hulkenberg after the German's knock with Oscar Piastri.

Alonso has just posted this to his Instagram story...

Image source, Fernando Alonso Instagram

Image source, Getty Images

Williams' Carlos Sainz who finished third in the sprint race: "We defiantly had a solid race, a solid pace. The Ferraris were quick behind but I kept them under control and we brought home P3.

On what has changed at Williams: "Nothing we are getting a bit more lucky and things have stopped happening to us.

"But I've had this pace all year. The first half of the year I wasn't able to show it and prove it, but now things are running a lot smoother, I'm just doing everything I was doing and things are clicking."

Image source, Getty Images

Mercedes' George Russell, who finished second in the sprint, on his on-track battle with Max Verstappen: I knew you don't get too many opportunities against Max and I saw half a chance, but I was probably too far behind. Glad I gave it a go, P2 for sure was better than we expected. Some decent points.

On the first-lap incident: "I was on the outside and fully sent it, and then I realised everyone on the inside had sent it as well. Carlos [Sainz] and I were like, I don't think that's going to end too nicely. It looked like it was three cars into one, which doesn't often go."

Image source, Getty Images

Red Bull's Max Verstappen, who won the sprint race in Austin: "Start was good, then there was the safety car because of the Turn One incident. It took a few laps after the safety car to get decent pace. So we have to figure out what is going on there. But never the less, we won the sprint, which is of course the most important. But of course looking at tomorrow, I do think we have to be better in the race to fight the McLarens.

On the rear of his car: "We will have a look, of course we have some ideas what we can do and then hopefully we can stick it a bit better tomorrow."

Max Verstappen's sprint race domination continues and now the gap between himself and championship leader Oscar Piastri in the standings is down to 55 points heading into tomorrow's main grand prix.

1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) - 8pts

2. George Russell (Mercedes) - 7

3. Carlos Sainz (Williams) - 6

4. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) - 5

5. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) - 4

6. Alex Albon (Williams) - 3

7. Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull) - 2

8. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) - 1

Oliver Bearman is delivered the news he now has a 10-second time penalty but the rookie doesn't agree with the punishment. That means Kimi Antonelli will take the final points place in eighth.

This very eventful sprint race will end behind the safety car.

Kimi Antonelli did have the corner in that tussle with Ollie Bearman, who ended up with all four wheels off the track on the outside of the Mercedes. The stewards have come to a decision and it's a 10-second time penalty for Bearman.

Damon Hill
1996 world champion on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2 in Austin

I started off with the absolutely wrong description of a sprint race. They've had more action in the sprint race than we have had in a long time. We don't want to see crashes but we certainly got some in this event.

Max Verstappen leads the remaining drivers behind the safety car as the stricken Aston Martin and Haas wait to be recovered by the marshals. Oliver Bearman is running in eighth place, but the stewards are going to investigate the rookie for leaving the track and gaining an advantage during his fight with Kimi Antonelli.

The safety car is back out! Lance Stroll tries a move from quite far back on the inside of Esteban Ocon - and doesn't make it. The Canadian slams into the Haas and both are out of this sprint. What a start to this Saturday track action.

McLaren's Oscar Piastri on Sky Sports: "I've not seen the incident from the TV cameras but I obviously had a pretty good start. We both went pretty deep into Turn One. I tried to cut back and got a hit, not a great way to start the day. I need to have another look."

The Mercedes of Kimi Antonelli wants that final points place off fellow rookie Ollie Bearman. The pair do battle, switching positions, and Bearman ends up running wide off the track. The stewards are going to investigate the Briton's move. for gaining an advatnage.