Leclerc leads Ferrari one-two in Austin as Norris penalty hands Verstappen third · RaceFans

Charles Leclerc led home Ferrari team mate Carlos Sainz Jnr to secure a one-two victory in the United States Grand Prix.

Leclerc moved ahead of both Lando Norris and Max Verstappen at the first corner to take the lead which he never looked like losing over the 56-lap race.

He led home his team mate for Ferrari’s fourth win of the season and the team’s second one-two of 2024. Verstappen took the final podium position in third after Norris was handed a five-second penalty for passing the Red Bull driver outside of track limits.

At the start of the race, Norris held the lead on the run to the first corner, but left too much room to the inside. Verstappen took advantage to dive inside, pushing Norris wide at the exit and allowing Leclerc to cut through both of them into the lead of the race, while Norris dropped to fourth behind Sainz.

The Safety Car was deployed when Lewis Hamilton lost control of his Mercedes at turn 19 on the second lap, sending him into the gravel trap and out of the race. Leclerc led away at the restart at the start of lap six, with Verstappen, Sainz and the two McLarens of Norris and Oscar Piastri chasing behind.

Verstappen in second was informed of a minor problem in his Red Bull that the team would be able to fix at his first pit stop. Leclerc grew his lead to over 11 seconds to Verstappen until the Red Bull driver pitted at the end of lap 25 for hard tyres. Leclerc stopped the next lap, rejoining ahead of team mate Sainz who had undercut Verstappen by pitting a few laps earlier.

The McLarens assumed the lead and attempted to extend their stints as long as possible. Norris eventually pitted on lap 31, handing the lead back to Leclerc who had already caught and passed Piastri, still on his starting tyres. Once Piastri pitted on the next lap, it was now a Ferrari one-two out front.

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Norris gradually reeled in Verstappen in third until he was within DRS range of the Red Bull. The pair fought for multiple laps until Norris eventually appeared to pass Verstappen into turn 12, but both drivers ran off at the exit of the corner. Norris remained ahead to Verstappen’s protests, and the stewards handed Norris a five second penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage.

Leclerc remained in control out front and took the chequered flag first to take his third win of the season, with Sainz eight seconds behind. Norris finished third but lost the place to Verstappen after his…