F1 US GP: Leclerc leads Ferrari 1-2

Verstappen moved up to third place ahead of Norris due to a penalty imposed on the latter for overtaking outside track boundaries.

Ferrari clinched a commanding top two positions at the United States GP, as Charles Leclerc secured the win followed by his teammate Carlos Sainz. Meanwhile, the race for the final spot on the podium unfolded between the two title contenders, Lando Norris and Max Verstappen. Ultimately, Norris surrendered third place to Verstappen due to a penalty incurred for making a pass beyond the track limits to gain an edge.

1. Leclerc emerges victorious, crossing the finish line 8.562 seconds before Sainz.
2. Penalty imposed on Norris due to Verstappen overtaking
3. From starting in the pitlane, Russell impressively climbs up to sixth place.

Leclerc wins US GP

Leclerc seized the lead after Verstappen nudged Norris wide at Turn 1 at the beginning of the race. Subsequently, the Ferrari racer had a comfortable race to triumph, crossing the finish line 8.5 seconds ahead of his teammate. “Winning at the commencement of this series of races feels fantastic. The team’s exceptional efforts resulted in this victory, and securing a 1-2 finish earns us valuable points in the Constructors’ championship battle. It’s an ambitious goal, but we will continue to pursue it relentlessly,” expressed Leclerc.

Our performance was solid right from the start, and I sensed a comfortable gap forming between Max and me. The progress we’ve achieved in our race setup is significant, and I’m optimistic that we can maintain this momentum in the upcoming races. Our focus remains on optimizing our outcomes, and when the season concludes, we will assess our position based on the results.

Sainz effectively utilized the undercut strategy to secure the second position, allowing Ferrari to achieve its first double podium finish in the United States since 2006. Initially in third place, the Spaniard entered the pits on Lap 22 to switch to new hard tires and subsequently pushed hard to clock impressive lap times. This tactical move paid off when Verstappen made his pit stop on Lap 25 and emerged from the pits behind Sainz’s Ferrari.

Norris vs Leclerc

Amid Ferrari securing the top two positions with ease, there unfolded a fierce competition for the last spot on the podium. On Lap 47, Norris swiftly closed the gap to Verstappen, entering the DRS zone, and persistently tried to overtake the Red Bull contender. The climax ensued on Lap 52 as Norris executed a bold maneuver at Turn 12. Both cars went wide, but Norris managed to rejoin the track ahead of Verstappen. McLaren chose not to return the position to Verstappen, leading to Norris receiving a 5-second penalty. This penalty pushed him down to fourth place, granting Verstappen the coveted third place.

In the recent race, Oscar Piastri secured the fifth position, trailing his fellow McLaren teammate. Despite a significant crash during qualifying, George Russell from Mercedes was forced to kick off the race from the pitlane; however, he remarkably clinched the sixth spot. The seventh position was claimed by Sergio Perez, with Nico Hulkenberg trailing behind in eighth place. Making a comeback to the grid for the first time this weekend in place of Daniel Ricciardo, Liam Lawson finished ninth. Franco Colapinto concluded the top 10 with a commendable performance.

2024 F1 standings

Verstappen, despite his winless streak since June, has managed to increase his championship advantage over Norris to 57 points. Leclerc holds the third position in the overall standings, trailing Norris by 22 points.

The Mexican Grand Prix scheduled for October 25-27 is the next event on the Formula 1 calendar.