AUSTIN: Charles Leclerc won the US Excellent Prix in a Ferrari one-two with Carlos Sainz on Sunday as Equation One title pioneer Max Verstappen managed Lando Norris a critical difficulty in their title fight.
The race at Austin’s Circuit of the Americas saw an exhilarating late duel between the title competitors end in discussion, with McLaren’s Norris surpassing his opponent for third spot however at that point being gathering a five-second punishment.
Verstappen’s platform left him 57 focuses clear with five rounds remaining.
After chasing down his Dutch rival on newer tires four laps from the finish, Norris had passed Verstappen, but he was penalized for going off the track and gaining an advantage.
The surpass, and the stewards’ response, gave a significant idea.
It reduces momentum. However, Norris, who had started on pole position, stated, “We came in here with our mind open, not expecting to dominate or just win or anything.”
“The one person I want to beat is Max and that is the person I didn’t beat today. It was a non-fruitful end of the week, with everything taken into account. However, we tried our best. He added, “I tried.”
“It wasn’t good enough,” she said. “We have work to do, and I have work to do.”
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri was fifth with Mercedes’ George Russell 6th and Sergio Perez seventh for Red Bull.
While New Zealander Liam Lawson got off to a great start with Red Bull-owned RB in ninth place, despite starting at the bottom of the grid, Nico Hulkenberg scored crucial points for Haas, which is owned by the US.
With Williams’ final point, Argentine rookie Franco Colapinto continued his outstanding form.
Leclerc’s success, his third of the time after Monaco and Monza, finished Verstappen’s run of three progressive US Great Prix succeeds at Austin’s Circuit of the Americas and left Ferrari just eight focuses hapless of Red Bull.
McLaren maintained their 40-point lead over the constructors in the standings.
“The team gets one-two. We could never have imagined for better,” said Leclerc.
We did an excellent job. The car’s speed was excellent. Thank you to the engineers for that. They have put in a lot of effort to bring us the upgrades from Singapore and the previous races. It appears to be working.
Despite receiving the maximum eight points for winning the Saturday 100-kilometer sprint from pole position, Verstappen’s losing Sunday streak extended to nine Grands Prix when he returned to Spain in June.
However, the battle with Norris was the real focus, so that was just a minor detail.
“That was a hard race. With the defense, I tried everything. It was amusing. It’s somewhat odd that you can surpass outside the track,” Verstappen said over the group radio.
Norris made a fast escape toward the beginning however was then constrained wide at the tough first corner with Verstappen acquiring a put while Leclerc overwhelmed both within and Sainz finished in third.
The McLaren driver grumbled over the group radio about that move.
“He plainly pushed me off. The Briton stated, “He had no intention of turning the corner.” Indeed, even he went out of control. I had to steer clear of hitting him or him.
Zak Brown, the head of McLaren, stated that his driver had experienced “a little dive bomb.”
The security vehicle showed up interestingly since Canada in June when seven-times title holder Lewis Hamilton veered off on lap two and stranded his Mercedes in the rock at turn 19.
The Briton’s miserable 24 hours, in which he qualified 19th at one of his favorite circuits and started 17th, came to an end with the retirement.
Esteban Ocon set the quickest lap for battling Snow capped however completed eighteenth and didn’t gather a reward point.
