Leclerc Triumphs at US Grand Prix; Verstappen Secures 3rd Place After Late Penalty for Norris

AUSTIN, Texas -- Charles Leclerc secured Ferrari’s first victory at the United States Grand Prix since 2018, demonstrating a clever start and commanding performance on Sunday. Meanwhile, Max Verstappen of Red Bull bolstered his lead in the F1 season championship, finishing third ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris.

Verstappen's podium finish was aided by a late five-second penalty assessed to Norris for leaving the track while attempting to overtake Verstappen in the closing laps. This incident sparked a heated exchange, with Verstappen complaining about Norris' move, while Norris argued that Verstappen had also left the track.

This penalty notably cost Norris valuable championship points in his pursuit of the title, extending Verstappen’s lead from 54 points to 57, with just five grand prix and two sprint races remaining in the season.

Leclerc celebrated his third win of the season, contributing to a Ferrari 1-2 finish with his teammate Carlos Sainz taking second place. Kimi Raikkonen was the last Ferrari driver to win at the Circuit of the Americas back in 2018.

Despite Verstappen not winning a grand prix since June, he increased his championship points over the weekend, having also triumphed in Saturday’s sprint race. Norris leaves Austin frustrated after squandering a significant opportunity to close the gap, having started from pole position.

In a dramatic opening, both Norris and Verstappen raced wide into the first turn, allowing Leclerc, starting from fourth, to seize the lead.

Norris voiced his concerns after the start, stating that Verstappen had pushed him off track, highlighting the intensity of their ongoing battle throughout the race.

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