Charles Leclerc achieved an impressive victory at the United States Grand Prix, leading to a remarkable one-two finish for Ferrari. Meanwhile, Lando Norris had to relinquish third place to his title rival Max Verstappen after receiving a penalty for a late overtake.
Ferrari demonstrated outstanding performance, successfully surpassing the leading championship contenders, including the front-row starters. Leclerc finished ahead of his teammate Carlos Sainz, marking a significant victory for the team. However, as the race reached its conclusion, the tension focused on the fierce contest for the final podium spot between Norris and Verstappen, culminating in a thrilling and contentious finale that captivated fans.
Though Norris started from pole position, he struggled with a poor start that saw him drop to fourth place behind Verstappen. Despite facing challenges, he made a strong comeback in the second stint, as McLaren strategically delayed his only pit stop, equipping him with fresher tyres than those of the Red Bull for the waning laps.
In the later parts of the race, Verstappen initially fended off Norris’s efforts to overtake him, displaying impressive defensive driving. However, with just four laps remaining, Norris successfully passed Verstappen at Turn 12. During the maneuver, Verstappen held firm on the inside line, forcing Norris to go wide and re-enter the track, ultimately taking the position.
After a review by the stewards, they deemed that Norris’s overtaking move was completed improperly and subsequently added five seconds to his final race time. Although he finished 4.1 seconds ahead of Verstappen, the penalty meant Verstappen was reinstated to third place. This late development extended Verstappen’s title lead over Norris to a significant 57 points with five races left in the 2024 season.
Oscar Piastri showcased strong performance by finishing fifth in the second McLaren, while George Russell also had an impressive outing, finishing sixth despite starting from the pit lane and incurring a five-second time penalty due to an incident with Valtteri Bottas’ Sauber.
Conversely, it was a disastrous day for Lewis Hamilton, the most successful driver in Austin’s history and a seven-time world champion. He faced an early exit within the first three laps when he spun out and got stuck in his Mercedes at Turn 19. Despite a promising start that saw him gain five positions from his 17th-place grid spot, Hamilton lost control on the right-hander, sending his car off the track and into the gravel, where he became immobilized. This incident was reminiscent of teammate Russell’s crash at the same corner during Saturday’s qualifying session, which damaged his car and forced him to start from the pit lane. Hamilton’s misfortune emphasized the unpredictable nature of racing, leaving fans and team members stunned by the quick turn of events.
United States GP result: Top 10
1) Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
2) Carlos Sainz, Ferrari
3) Max Verstappen, Red Bull
4) Lando Norris, McLaren
5) Oscar Piastri, McLaren
6) George Russell, Mercedes
7) Sergio Perez, Red Bull
8) Nico Hulkenberg, Haas
9) Liam Lawson, RB
10) Franco Colapinto, Williams
World of sports 
Leave a comment