The Monegasque driver beat his Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz in Austin this Sunday, while Lando Norris’ penalty did the Dutchman’s business.
And three for Charles Leclerc this season. After Monaco and Monza, the Ferrari driver won in Austin on Sunday during the United States Grand Prix, the 19th round of the season. Fourth on the grid, the Monegasque made a brilliant and intelligent start to take the lead and then unfold his score. His eighth career victory. Carlos Sainz gives Ferrari a double while Max Verstappen completes the podium thanks to a penalty inflicted on Norris, ultimately fourth.
Verstappen and Norris bicker at the first corner
The first line in Texas was tasty. On Saturday, after Verstappen’s victory in the sprint, Lando Norris took pole straight away just in front of the Batavian. Thus extending the battle for the world title. And the first turn was rough. After an average takeoff from both drivers, Verstappen dived at the first corner and forced the passage a little. The two men spun around the outside of the corner and meanwhile, Charles Leclerc, 4th on the grid, took the opportunity to emerge in the lead ahead of Verstappen, Sainz and Norris. The Briton was then the big loser and the Monegasque, the big winner. At a crazy pace, five tenths faster per lap than the competition, Leclerc took off very quickly, barely disturbed by the safety car caused by Hamilton on lap 3, and increased his lead to ten seconds before the pit stops. from round 20.
Sainz was the first to stop, at the end of the 21st lap, to put pressure on Verstappen. The Dutchman waited for him on lap 25 and came out behind the Spaniard. No worries, however, for Leclerc, still a solid leader after the stops. At McLaren, the situation was different. Fourth and fifth, Norris and Piastri pushed the first stint and the first stopped on lap 31, imitated a lap later by the Australian.
Norris on the offensive, Leclerc in demonstration
And the music would change. Barely out of the pits, Norris set off at a qualifying pace and put together the best laps to pounce on Verstappen while in front Leclerc managed the race in his own hands and Sainz ensured the double for Ferrari. Thirteen laps from the end, Norris had joined Verstappen. The Briton struggled with the Batavian for a long time but came within five laps of the goal to claim the podium. But outside the limits of the route. Norris did not return the position and was penalized five seconds on the final lap. Third at the finish but ultimately classified 4th behind Verstappen, the McLaren driver lost five points this weekend and left for Mexico 57 points behind the Batavian.
Up front, Leclerc and Ferrari impressed with enormous race pace. The Italians were the best on Sunday and signed a second double this season after Australia. Finally, we will note the good results of Liam Lawson (9th) with his Racing Bulls and Franco Colapinto (10th) with his Williams.
