Verstappen and Norris are separated via 57 issues at the drivers’ championship desk later the race, with Leclerc 3rd.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc clinched his 3rd Method One race of the season as he completed forward of teammate Carlos Sainz to win america Elegant Prix, month identify competitors Lando Norris and Max Verstappen have been locked in a arguable end.
Monaco local Leclerc helped Ferrari end the race one-two as Spaniard Sainz was once positioned moment, 8.562 seconds in the back of Leclerc’s profitable life of one:35:09.639 in a memorable race on the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.
“It wasn’t an easy weekend but I had the confidence in the race,” Leclerc stated afterwards.
“We still had the upper hand, we couldn’t have dreamed for better.”
Leclerc had additionally gained the Monaco Elegant Prix and Italian Elegant Prix this while and sits 3rd within the motive force standings in the back of Max Verstappen and Lando Norris, who tangled overdue within the race in a form that noticed Norris obtain a considerable penalty.
Norris stuck Verstappen and handed him for 3rd, however he left the observe to take action. The following five-second penalty he won on the finish of the race driven him in the back of Verstappen and again to fourth playground.
“It’s not an easy decision, it would’ve come sooner,” Norris stated. “I tried, he also went off the track. If he goes off the track he goes in too hard and gains an advantage. But I don’t make the rules.”
Ferrari ‘just as competitive’
Norris stated the race was once a “momentum killer” for his identify problem.
Requested via newshounds how a lot of a ‘killer’ it was once for the championship, Norris answered: “Fairly just a little. It’s a momentum killer.
“But we came in here with our mind open, not expecting to dominate or just win or anything. The fact that Ferrari was so quick today showed they’re just as competitive,” he added.
“Even though I came visiting flip one in first, I’d by no means have completed first or moment and I most effective may have completed 3rd. However the only man I want to beat is Max and that’s the man I didn’t beat as of late.
“It was a non-successful weekend, all in all. But we gave it a good shot. I tried. It wasn’t good enough and we have work to do and I have work to do myself.”
McLaren proceed to govern Purple Bull within the constructors’ standings via 40 issues, however Ferrari are looming into competition.
Norris had to beat Verstappen via greater than 8 issues a race weekend on moderate to have an actual anticipation of changing into champion and the duty has most effective develop into tougher with 5 rounds excess.
Verstappen – the three-time reigning F1 champion from the Netherlands – residue atop the motive force standings, 57 issues cloudless of the United Kingdom’s Norris, however his Elegant Prix identify drought has prolonged to 9 immediately races. Verstappen gained seven of 10 to start out the season.
British F1 icon Lewis Hamilton spun out round Flip 19 and was once the one motive force to not entire the race.
DRIVER STANDINGS (later 19/24 rounds)
Verstappen’s govern will increase to 57 issues #F1 #USGP pic.twitter.com/wVXySFRkrX
— Method 1 (@F1) October 20, 2024