Charles Leclerc leads Ferrari to one-two finish at U.S. Grand Prix as Verstappen secures third
AUSTIN, Texas -- Leclerc's masterclass at U.S. Grand Prix secures Ferrari one-two Finish.
Charles Leclerc delivered a remarkable performance at the United States Grand Prix, securing a flawless victory and leading Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz to a one-two finish. This marked their second one-two of the season following the Australian Grand Prix, invigorating their fight for the Constructors' Championship.
Leclerc surged into the lead from the opening lap, enjoying an unchallenged drive to victory. His Ferrari teammate, Carlos Sainz, executed a brilliant undercut to jump ahead of Verstappen after his pit stop and secured second place, finishing 8.5 seconds behind Leclerc.
Leclerc expressed his elation:
"Really happy with today, a one-two for the team; we couldn't have dreamed of better."
On his strategic gain at Turn 1, he added:
"It was a really good Turn 1, that's exactly what we wanted to do, and we've had a really good launch. We are still targeting the title, and it's a long way to go, but a good start to this triple header."
Opening lap drama
Pole-sitter Lando Norris initially held the lead when the lights went out for the 56-lap race, but a side-by-side battle with Max Verstappen into the first corner forced Norris wide. This allowed Leclerc to seize the opportunity and snatch P1.
Norris penalized in battle with Verstappen
As the race neared its conclusion, Norris and Verstappen engaged in a fierce duel for third place. Norris managed to overtake Verstappen, but the contentious nature of the move led to radio protests from Verstappen and Red Bull, arguing that Norris had exceeded track limits. Officials reviewed the incident and handed Norris a five-second time penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage. This penalty demoted Norris from third to fourth, promoting Verstappen to the final podium position.
Verstappen remarked:
"It was a tough battle, I tried everything I could to keep him behind, and in the end, to be on the podium for us is a very good result."
On addressing the penalty, Verstappen added:
"I have my opinion I don't need to say it here; I let the stewards do their thing. For us, it was a race we learned a lot and we'll analyze that."
An exasperated Norris, via team radio, accused Verstappen of forcing him wide:
"He clearly pushed me off. He had no intent to make the corner," added Norris. "Even he went off the track. I had to avoid crashing into him or him into me."
McLaren boss Zak Brown described the incident as "a bit of a dive bomb."
Midfield and points finishers
McLaren's Oscar Piastri finished fifth behind his teammate Norris, while George Russell made an impressive recovery to sixth after starting from the pit lane. Sergio Perez finished seventh, adding vital points for Red Bull. Haas’s Nico Hulkenberg took a commendable eighth, providing U.S.-owned Haas with valuable points. New Zealander Liam Lawson secured two points by finishing ninth in a commendable comeback drive, while Argentine rookie Franco Colapinto claimed the final point for Williams.
Lower grid and retirements
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton saw his race end prematurely after spinning out on lap two and expressing frustration over a difficult weekend. Esteban Ocon recorded the fastest lap for Alpine yet did not earn a bonus point due to finishing in 18th. Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu of Kick Sauber finished seventeenth and nineteenth respectively, unable to break their points duck.
As the teams head to the next round, Ferrari celebrates a well-deserved one-two finish, while the championship battle remains intense with only a few races left in the season. The key battles in the drivers' and constructors' championships intensify, promising more thrilling action in the races to come.
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