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
Sebastian Vettel announces racing return in ‘super team’ alongside axed F1 star
Sebastian Vettel will return to racing next year at the 2025 Race of Champions in Sydney, teaming up with compatriot and friend Mick Schumacher.
Four-time F1 world champion Vettel retired in 2022 after 16 seasons in the sport, where he raced for the likes of Red Bull, Ferrari and Aston Martin.
Yet next March at the Accor Stadium in Sydney, Vettel will form a German ‘super team’ alongside Schumacher – son of seven-time F1 world champion Michael Schumacher – in the ROC Nations Cup.
More below:
Sebastian Vettel announces racing return in ‘super team’ alongside axed F1 star
The four-time F1 world champion retired in 2022 but will reform a German partnership next March
Christian Horner responds to Zak Brown’s claim that Red Bull ‘bib’ device saga ‘doesn’t stack up’
Asked by Sky F1 why the FIA still wanted to add seals to the bib adjuster, Horner replied: “I think there’s been a bit of moaning from one of our rivals.
“And it’s the FIA’s job to look into these things. It’s on a list of the open-source components, so it’s been publicly available for the last three years. The FIA are happy with it, I think, just to satisfy perhaps some paranoia elsewhere in the paddock.”
“I feel that it’s sometimes to distract from perhaps what’s going on in your own house, then sometimes you try to light a fire somewhere else?”
Constructors’ Championship after US GP sprint
1. McLaren - 522 points
2. Red Bull - 483 points
3. Ferrari - 453 points
4. Mercedes - 336 points
5. Aston Martin - 86 points
6. RB - 34 points
7. Haas - 34 points
8. Williams - 16 points
9. Alpine - 13 points
10. Sauber - 0 points
Lewis Hamilton and F1 are desperate for Africa return – but these obstacles must be overcome
Formula One wants to return. Lewis Hamilton insists F1 cannot continue to ignore it. But after 31 years away, the sport still can’t thrash out a route back into the only viable continent (sorry Antarctica) it fails to race in: Africa.
It was 1993 the last time the “Mother Continent” hosted an F1 grand prix. That was at Kyalami, 20 miles north of Johannesburg, as Williams driver Alain Prost won the 27th version of the South African Grand Prix.
Rather obviously, it is difficult to claim the full veracity of the competition “Formula 1 World Championship” while a record 24-race calendar does not actually include the entire world and its continents.
But F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has made no secret of his desire to add an African race to the schedule, amid an opening set of talks with Rwandan officials last month.
However, is Rwanda the only option? South Africa has come close in recent years, too. And what are the major obstacles? The Independent takes a look at all the potential locations F1 could venture to in Africa.
Lewis Hamilton and F1 are desperate for Africa return – but these obstacles remain
South Africa and Rwanda are the leading African candidates to host a Formula One grand prix in the future
A reminder of the start times for the remainder of the Austin weekend:
All times BST
Saturday 19 October
- Qualifying: 11pm
Sunday 20 October
- Race: 8pm
Driver Standings after US GP sprint
The gap between the top two is now 54 points...
1. Max Verstappen - 339 points
2. Lando Norris - 285 points
3. Charles Leclerc - 250 points
4. Oscar Piastri - 237 points
5. Carlos Sainz - 197 points
6. Lewis Hamilton - 177 points
7. George Russell - 159 points
8. Sergio Perez - 144 points
9. Fernando Alonso - 62 points
10. Nico Hulkenberg - 25 points
11. Lance Stroll - 24 points
12. Yuki Tsunoda - 22 points
13. Alex Albon - 12 points
14. Daniel Ricciardo - 12 points
15. Kevin Magnussen - 8 points
16. Pierre Gasly - 8 points
17. Ollie Bearman - 7 points
18. Esteban Ocon - 5 points
19. Franco Colapinto - 4 points
20. Zhou Guanyu - 0 points
21. Logan Sargeant - 0 points
22. Valtteri Bottas - 0 points
Martin Brundle insists there is ‘no smoking gun’ in Red Bull F1 bib device saga
Martin Brundle believes there is “no smoking gun” for Red Bull as their ‘bib’ device saga continues at the US Grand Prix in Austin on Friday.
Full quotes below:
Martin Brundle insists there is ‘no smoking gun’ in Red Bull F1 bib device saga
The furore surrounding Red Bull’s unique device has overshadowed the start of the US Grand Prix
SPRINT RACE REPORT: Max Verstappen ends frustrating winless run with sprint success at US Grand Prix
Max Verstappen ended his winless run to convert his pole position into victory at Saturday’s sprint race in the United States and extend his championship lead over Lando Norris by two points.
Verstappen led from start to finish to take the chequered flag 3.8 seconds clear of Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz, who moved past Norris on the final lap.
Norris hung on to third, one place ahead of Charles Leclerc. George Russell started second but finished only fifth. Lewis Hamilton was sixth in the other Mercedes.
Full report below:
Max Verstappen ends frustrating winless run with sprint success at US Grand Prix
Lando Norris slipped two points further adrift of his title rival as he lost a place on the final lap
F1 US Grand Prix: George Russell, after finishing fifth in the sprint
“Front tyres, I spoke with Lewis after the race, he had no rear tyres left - so we’re missing something.
“We need to get on top of these tyres, it’s the first time we ran on the medium tyres.
“It’s only the sprint race.”
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