F1 US Grand Prix LIVE: Race results and standings after Norris penalised as Leclerc wins
F1 live updates from the Circuit of the Americas as Norris is penalised for an overtake on Max Verstappen and Leclerc leads Ferrari to a glorious victory in Austin
Lando Norris’ F1 championship hopes were dealt a hammer blow after he was handed a controversial five-second penalty to finish behind rival Max Verstappen following a compelling US Grand Prix.
As Charles Leclerc raced to an impressive win at Austin’s Circuit of the Americas, pole man Norris was only fourth – one place behind Verstappen – to leave him 57 points adrift in the title race with only 146 points to play for across the concluding five rounds. Carlos Sainz took second to complete a Ferrari one-two.
Norris spent the final dozen laps crawling all over Verstappen’s gearbox in a thrilling conclusion, and he eventually made the move stick on the 52nd lap.
However, the stewards quickly launched an investigation into the pass, and Norris was adjudged to have run off the track. Norris was penalised, and although he crossed the line in third, four seconds ahead of Verstappen, his sanction dropped him back, in what could prove a pivotal decision in his championship quest.
Follow live updates from the United States Grand Prix with The Independent
TOP-10 AT THE US GRAND PRIX:
1. Charles Leclerc
2. Carlos Sainz
3. Max Verstappen
4. Lando Norris
5. Oscar Piastri
6. George Russell
7. Sergio Perez
8. Nico Hulkenberg
9. Liam Lawson
10. Franco Colapinto
F1 US Grand Prix LIVE: Charles Leclerc wins in Austin!
Meanwhile at the front, Charles Leclerc wins the race by eight seconds to Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz! What a weekend for Ferrari!
Verstappen was third, though fourth on the track, with Norris dropping back down to fourth.
5-10: Piastri, Russell, Perez, Hulkenberg, Lawson, Colapinto
Jeez, what drama at the end there!
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff on the FIA decision-making:
“I think consistent. With Valtteri, it wasn’t even a risk. Racing for positions... and then receving that penalty is completely odd and bizarre. I think we know why, but we can’t say that on decision - and then the decision at the end.
“Sometimes there’s a correlation... when decision-making is a bit interesting.
“You said stewards. At the end of the day, it’s a difficult job, some are very good, some are trying their best. You need to salute these guys.”
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella:
“The way the stewards interfered with a beautiful piece of motorsport was inappropriate.
“It cost us a podium, we stayed patient and were pushed off in first corner. This kind of decision from the stewards, it can’t be appealed, we move on to the next race.
“We double checked that both cars went off track, so there was no doubt that the manoeuvre was correct.”
Strong words!
Lando Norris, after finishing fourth:
“It’s not an easy decision, it would’ve come sooner. 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.
On the start: “Yeah potentially, I was pretty tight. Max went for a tight gap. From inside the car, it’s easier and harder to say on times, Max committed quite a bit. I don’t know, I need to look back. He’s overtaken by going off track.
“He defends off track, overtakes off track. Max raced well, we had a good race - the rules are the rules.
“The medium I struggled. We ended up where we expected to be, I’d have liked third - we still didn’t have the pace of the Ferraris. That’s life. We need a good chunk compared to the Ferrari.”
F1 US Grand Prix: Time for the podium!
And what a podium for Ferrari - a one-two finish!
Time for the Monegasque and Italian national anthems!
And Max Verstappen takes third place - and his lead to Lando Norris is now 57 points!
Max Verstappen in the cool down room:
“We were not so fast today!
“We had a [battle] for a few laps in a row. Yeah, a lot of opportunities to go side-by-side. He was already in front.”
Charles Leclerc after winning the US Grand Prix:
“Very happy, it wasn’t an easy weekend but I had the confidence in the race. We still had the upper-hand, we couldn’t have dreamed for better.
“It was a pretty good turn 1, exactly what I wanted to do. I knew it would be very tight, today I gained from it. That obviously helped our first stint, in the second stint it was all about managing.
“The whole team is working super well, really happy.”
Carlos Sainz after finishing second:
“Congratulations to Charles, it’s a result which puts us exactly where we want to be for the constructors.
“I knew the race would be decided at the start, I got the worst of it, I couldn’t get the lead. The pace was really good.”
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