AUSTIN: Charles Leclerc won the US Grand Prix in a Ferrari one-two with Carlos Sainz on Sunday as Formula One championship leader Max Verstappen dealt Lando Norris a significant setback in their title battle.

The race at Austin’s Circuit of the Americas saw a thrilling late duel between the championship contenders end in controversy, with McLaren’s Norris overtaking his rival for third place but then being collecting a five-second penalty.

Verstappen’s podium left him 57 points clear with five rounds remaining.

Norris had passed Verstappen four laps from the end, after hunting his Dutch rival down on fresher tyres, but was penalised for going off the track and gaining an advantage.

The overtake, and the stewards’ reaction, provided a major talking point.

“It’s a momentum killer. But we came in here with our mind open, not expecting to dominate or just win or anything,” said Norris, who had started on pole position.

“The one guy I need to beat is Max and that’s the guy I didn’t beat today. It was a non-successful weekend, all in all. But we gave it a good shot. I tried,” he added.

“It wasn’t good enough and we have work to do and I have work to do myself.”

McLaren’s Oscar Piastri was fifth with Mercedes’ George Russell sixth and Sergio Perez seventh for Red Bull.

Nico Hulkenberg scored precious points for US-owned Haas in eighth while New Zealander Liam Lawson got off to a great return with Red Bull-owned RB in ninth place despite starting at the back of the grid.

Argentine rookie Franco Colapinto also continued his standout form with the final point for Williams.

Leclerc’s win, his third of the season after Monaco and Monza, ended Verstappen’s run of three successive US Grand Prix wins at Austin’s Circuit of the Americas and left Ferrari only eight points adrift of Red Bull.

McLaren continued to lead the constructors’ standings, their lead now 40 points.

“One-two for the team. We couldn’t have dreamt for better,” said Leclerc.

“We did a great job. The pace of the car was really good. That’s thanks to the engineers. They have been working like crazy to bring upgrades that we had in Singapore and the last few races. It seems to be paying off.”

Although Verstappen won the Saturday 100km sprint from pole, collecting the maximum eight points, his losing Sunday streak extended to nine grands prix going back to Spain in June.

That was a mere detail, however, with the real focus on the battle with Norris.

“That was a hard race. I tried everything with the defending. That was fun. It’s just a bit weird that you can overtake outside the track,” Verstappen said over the team radio.

Norris made a quick getaway at the start but was then forced wide at the uphill first corner with Verstappen gaining a place while Leclerc overtook both on the inside and Sainz followed through in third.

The McLaren driver complained over the team radio about that move.

“He clearly pushed me off. He had no intent to make the corner,” said the Briton. “Even he went off the track. I had to avoid crashing into him or him into me.”

McLaren boss Zak Brown said his driver had suffered “a bit of a dive bomb”.

The safety car made an appearance for the first time since Canada in June when seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton spun off on lap two and beached his Mercedes in the gravel at turn 19.

The retirement ended a miserable 24 hours for the Briton, who qualified only 19th at one of his favourite circuits and started 17th.

Esteban Ocon set the fastest lap for struggling Alpine but finished 18th and did not collect a bonus point.

Published in Dawn, October 22nd, 2024