Max Verstappen dealt Formula 1 championship rival Lando Norris a significant blow by claiming a vital podium finish at the US Grand Prix.
Charles Leclerc won the race in a Ferrari one-two with Carlos Sainz.
The race at Austin’s Circuit of the Americas saw a thrilling late duel between the championship contenders end in controversy though, with Norris overtaking his rival for third place but then collecting a 5-second penalty.
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.
Both drivers were forced wide in the move.
Verstappen’s podium left him 57 points clear with five rounds remaining.
“It’s a momentum-killer. But we came in here with our mind open, not expecting to dominate or just win or anything,” said pole-sitter Norris.
“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.
“It wasn’t good enough and we have work to do and I have work to do myself.”
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.
Max Verstappen (1) pushes Lando Norris (4) wide on turn one. (Getty Images: Icon Sportswire/David Buono)
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”.
That incident was then compounded by Norris being penalised for his move later in the race.
McLaren’s team principle Andrea Stella said the decision was “inappropriate”.
“My view is that the way that the stewards interfered with a beautiful piece of motorsport was inappropriate because both cars were off track, so both cars gained an advantage,” Stella told Sky Sports.
The Italian said the decision could not be appealed and championship leaders McLaren had no alternative but to put it behind them.
“We double-checked that both cars went off track. So for us, there was no doubt that the manoeuvre was correct,” he added when asked why Norris had not been told to give the place back.
Max Verstappen extended his lead to 57 points in the F1 championship standings. (Getty Images: Mark Thompson)
Red Bull principal Christian Horner naturally disagreed, calling it a “slam-dunk” decision and commending the stewards for acting promptly and ensuring the podium reflected the true result.
“For us, it was crystal clear that the pass had been made off the track so he should have given the place back,” he told reporters.
“He chose not to so, therefore, there was a penalty. For us, it was very much a black-and-white scenario.”
Norris said the stewards’ decisions were inconsistent and rushed, with Verstappen over-defending, making a mistake but still gaining from it.
“I don’t think you can appeal this kind of penalty, which is, again, a silly thing because they’re just guessing and I don’t think that’s how stewarding should be done,” Norris said.
“I’m not complaining against them. I think it’s just more the fact they don’t see everything, understand everything, as well as we do when we’re inside the car.”.
Dream result for Ferrari
Ferrari claimed a valuable 1-2 finish in the constructors’ championship race. (Getty Images: Icon Sportswire/Bob Kupbens)
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 in the constructors’ championship.
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 streak in Sunday races 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,” Verstappen said.
“That was fun. It’s just a bit weird that you can overtake outside the track,” he added on team radio in relation to Norris’s move.
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.
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri was fifth with Mercedes’s 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 with ninth place despite starting at the back of the grid.
Argentine rookie Franco Colapinto also continued his stand-out form with the final point for Williams.
Reuters/ABC
