Max Verstappen pushed so hard in his recovery drive to finish second in the United States Grand Prix that he “destroyed” a pair of his Formula 1 racing🧜 b📖oots.

The Red Bull driver, who started from 18th on the grid following a penalty for taking on a new gearbox after damaging his suspension during qualify🧸ing, charged through the order to finish second behind Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen.

Verstappen jumped Valtteri Bottas in the pit stop window and later gained a place on Lewis H𓂃amilton when the championship leader was forced into a two-stop strategy, before closing ontoꦑ the back of Raikkonen, who held on for a popular victory.

“It was a bit unexpected but a good start, a good first lap, and then very quickly we were back into P5, P4 and we could just f🦄ollow the leaders a﷽nd we had really good pace," Verstappen said. 

“We made theಌ right call to undercut Valtteri an🐟d from there onwards we could do our own race.

“I think in the end we could 🌳put a bit of pressure on but unfortunately in the last three or four laps I ran out of tyres on the Supersoft compared to 😼the guys on the soft around me.

“But I’m still very happy. I destroyed my shoe - I think I was pushing a bit hard but it felt good.”

Verstappeꦡn was also forced to defend from Hamilton in the closing stages as the Briton look🥃ed to move himself into a position to win the title, but the Dutchman was able to hold on in a thrilling battle in the final sector.

Reflecting on the duel, Verstappen said: “At that time I was really struggling with the rear tyres. I locked up through Turn 12 and then there w⛎as a good fight through the Esses.

“Then Lewis came close♕ and yeah, we had a few corners where I had to close the door a little bit. Then he tried around the outside – but I was on the edge already in the fast corners so I was just sliding a lot.

“I saw also that Lewis ran out of room and then, of course, if you go a bit wide yo🍸u get a lot of marbles on the tyres so it takes like a lap before they have grip again. So happy to finish second.”