SPRINT START: Watch the opening lap of the Sprint in Austin as Verstappen keeps Leclerc at bay

There was an eventful start to the 100KM Sprint at the United States Grand Prix, as Max Verstappen held off Charles Leclerc from the get go..

While Verstappen kept his lead from pole position after defending robustly against Charles Leclerc, the latter was then challenged by Lewis Hamilton. The Mercedes clinched second place into Turn 2, though looked to run slightly wide through the first few corners.

READ MORE: Verstappen charges to Sprint pole in Austin as he narrowly beats out Leclerc and Hamilton

Elsewhere, Carlos Sainz – who made a good start on a set of used soft tyres – appeared to make contact with the McLaren of Oscar Piastri, but both were able to continue, before the Spaniard then tussled with Piastri’s team mate Lando Norris.

This left Piastri to defend from a charging Sergio Perez, while the Aston Martin duo of Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll engaged in a scrap further back.

There were gains for the likes of George Russell, while others – such as the returning Daniel Ricciardo – lost out during the opening proceedings.

Click on the video player above to relive a frenetic first lap at the Circuit of The Americas and keep up with the rest of the evening’s proceedings in Austin with our live coverage here.