The driver of Formula 1, <a href="http://www.time.news/upset-in-italy-they-talk-about-the-discomfort-of-a-star-driver-due-to-hamiltons-arrival-at-ferrari-in-2025/" title=""Upset". In Italy they talk about the discomfort of a star driver due to Hamilton's arrival at Ferrari in 2025″>Charles Leclerc, managed to reach a Ferrari in Texas. The Monegasque won the US Grand Prix in Austin on Sunday and was also able to celebrate the Scuderia’s second double win of the year. Teammate Carlos Sainz came second in Leclerc’s third win of the season; Back then in reverse order.
World champion Max Verstappen (Red Bull) slightly extended his lead in the world championship standings with third place. The Dutchman crossed the finish line in fourth place behind his nearest rival and pole sitter Lando Norris, after Norris overtook him in the final stage of the race. The McLaren driver received a five-second penalty from the race stewards for his illegal overtaking maneuver in which he left the track and only finished fourth.
Mercedes debacle in Austin
“It’s a great result for us to be on the podium at the end,” said Verstappen, who remained vague when asked about Norris’ overtaking maneuver after lap twelve: “I have my opinion, I don’t have to express it here, the wardens will do their work. It’s a race we learned a lot from.”
For Mercedes, the 300th race since the brand’s factory return to Formula 1 at the start of the 2010 season was a matter of concern. World record champion Lewis Hamilton botched the qualification, started from 17th place and ended up in the gravel in the third lap. George Russell was forced to start from the pit lane and picked up a five second penalty in the process. It was a good day for Nico Hülkenberg. The Rhinelander finished eighth and scored in the points.
Verstappen safely won the sprint on Saturday and it felt “like old times”. The success, which earned him two points over Norris, was also important from a morale point of view. Because it confirmed that Red Bull’s upswing in form will continue in the final two races after the autumn break. “We’re back at the music, driving on equal terms,” Red Bull motorsport consultant Helmut Marko said after qualifying, when Verstappen had to hand over pole position to Norris.
In front of the Ferraris, the main rivals of the World Championship shared the first row of the grid, which created an additional explosion at the Circuit of the Americas: Turn one at the end of the long climb from the start and the treacherous end, the APEX and The corner entrance is difficult to see from the cockpit and the pole is not necessarily an advantage.
This was confirmed after the traffic lights went out. Norris started too passively, and Verstappen promptly moved close to his World Cup rival on the inside. The two went into the first corner side by side and were pushed far out in a close ladder. Leclerc, who started in fourth place, used this to his advantage and took the lead. Verstappen barely fended off two attacks from Sainz in the first two laps, while Leclerc drove from the front and significantly increased his lead.
Verstappen was forced further into defence, and an undercut by Sainz made matters worse for the world champion. After the overdue tire change, the Dutchman lost his job. Norris stayed on track much longer and overtook Verstappen with fresher tyres. Norris set the fastest times meanwhile, the defending champion was struggling with his rubber.