Charles Leclerc Source: SITA/AP/Eric Gay
AUSTIN – Monaco’s Charles Leclerc won the US Grand Prix, the nineteenth race of the F1 series.
The double of the Ferrari team was confirmed by Spaniard Carlos Sainz with second place. British Lando Norris in McLaren finished third, but in the final lap he received a 5-second penalty for overtaking Dutchman Max Verstappen from Red Bull off the track, so he eventually took third place.
Leclerc achieved his eighth career victory in the USA and his jubilee 40th podium finish. In the ongoing season, he already triumphed in Monaco and Italy.
AND IT’S A 1-2 FOR FERRARI 💪#F1 #USGP pic.twitter.com/UczajLzMQN
— Formula 1 (@F1) October 20, 2024
Immediately after the start, originally second Verstappen tried to attack Norris, both were delayed and Ferrari took advantage of it. Leclerc took the lead, followed by Verstappen and Sainz. Norris fell to fourth place. Sainz tried to overtake Verstappen, whom he pushed off the track in the left-hand corner.
Hamilton had an excellent start, improving by up to five places, but the race was over for him already in the 3rd lap, when he ended up in the gravel. The safety car came out on the track and the order led by Leclerc, Vestappen, Sainz did not change for a long time. In the 22nd lap, Sainz overtook in an attempt to get ahead of Verstappen. Returning to the track, he was seventh behind Perez.
Interim leader Leclerc went to the pits on the 27th lap. On the return he was ahead of Sainz. The return from the pits, on the other hand, did not work out for Verstappen, who finished fifth behind Sainz. After Piastre and Norris also changed shoes, the front of the order settled down to Leclerc, Sainz, Verstappen. However, the McLarens drove behind them, while Norris had the speed and gradually closed the gap on Verstappen. From the 47th lap, the Dutchman fought hard against Norris, who had fresher tires for six laps.
In the 52nd lap, it worked out for Norris, but he overtook him outside the track and in the final lap he received a 5-second penalty. Briton George Russell from Mercedes, who started from 20th position, finished in an excellent 6th place. The Australian Liam Lawson from RB also recorded a significant shift, who took 9th place, although he came to the track from 19th. There are five competition weekends left until the end of the championship. The next race is scheduled for Sunday, October 27 in Mexico. The season will culminate on December 8 in Abu Dhabi.
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- Author: © List/
- PHOTO: X/Formula 1
- Source: TASR
