LANDO HUNTS TEXAS STAR...

MAX VERSTAPPEN said his upgraded Red Bull "feels like old times" as he used his new parts to inflict a blow on Lando Norris' title hopes.

- DANIEL MOXON

The Brit needs to keep narrowing the gap on his title rival but missed out on the chance to do so in yesterday's Sprint race in Austin.

The damage was done on Friday when he qualified fourth for the 19-lap Texas tussle while Verstappen secured a first pole in any F1 format since the Imola race in May.

And the defending World champ led from start to finish while Norris had to settle for third after rising two places on the first lap before losing one of them to Carlos Sainz at the end of the race.

Verstappen (right) beamed: "It feels a bit like old times! I am very happy with today. If you look at the whole race, Ferrari were also very quick but, for us, we were finally racing again.