Dutch commentator Olav Mol feels that, with their strong Friday pace in Austin, Mercedes ultimately gave Max Verstappen a better car.

Mercedes were widely expected to be the strongest team at the Circuit of The Americas as they have been in the past, and that looked to be the case when they dominated Friday practice.

However, Red Bull were more than a match at the business end of the weekend with Verstappen taking pole position and winning the race, narrowly beating Lewis Hamilton.

Mol feels that, by showing such strong pace at the start of the weekend, Mercedes woke Red Bull up and inadvertently caused Verstappen to have a better car when it mattered.