AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The heat is on in Texas, literally and figuratively.

It’s enough to make a championship leader sweat. A lot.

McLaren driver Oscar Piastri heads into the United States Grand Prix this weekend winless in three races and his championship lead over teammate Lando Norris trimmed to 22 points with six full races and three sprint races left this season.

Lurking in their rearview mirrors is Red Bull's resurgent reigning champion Max Verstappen, who is hunting them with new vigor after two wins and a second-place finish in the last three races.

If that wasn't enough to make Piastri uncomfortable, Sunday's race has been declared a “heat hazard” event because of soaring temperatures expected to approach and maybe even top 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius).

All of

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