A stars and stripes tie-break between Hamilton and Verstappen

The tennis tie-break is an American invention thought up by Jimmy Van Alen, who in 1958 created a scoring system with one decisive game aimed at avoiding the chance of a match going on forever. Van Alen's idea proved popular especially in his country to the extent that, in 1970 the US Open officially adopted it and it then became standard practice, not just in tennis as the concept was carried over with specific modifications to a variety of other sports such as volleyball for example. 

In its classic format, the tie-break comes into play when the score is six all and, strangely enough that is the current score between the two drivers with the most Formula 1 Grand Prix wins in the United States. Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton are both looking to clinch the seventh “match” that would make them the undisputed king of Formula 1 in the land of the stars and stripes. 

Five of Lewis' wins in the States came right here in Austin, in the first year 2012 and then four in a row from 2014 to 2017. Max is on three at COTA, all the last three years, 2021, 2022 and 2023, the other trio made up of two wins in Miami in 2023 and 2024 and one last year in Las Vegas. 

And so here we are at a possible tie-break, even if Max could be considered to have a slight advantage, having won the two Sprint races held in North America, in 2023 here in Austin and this year in Miami. Plus, the pole he secured this afternoon for today's Sprint would add to his claim, even if the real tie-break will be fought out on Sunday.

When it comes to the winning teams in American races, here too there is currently a tie for first place with Ferrari and McLaren both on 13 wins apiece. It's possible that it is this battle that might provide an outright leader on Sunday afternoon rather than that between the two drivers.