Charles Leclerc wins United States F1 GP as Norris’ battle with Verstappen breaks out | formula 1

The fact that there is still a real title fight ahead this season was illustrated in the most beautiful way that Formula 1 deserves, with a gripping, dramatic and controversial wheel-to-wheel competition between the two protagonists Max Verstappen and Lando Norris the USA Grand Prix. But shame on poor Charles Leclerc, whose dominant win in Austin and Ferrari’s resurgence with a one-two alongside Carlos Sainz were all but overshadowed by the Texas sun.

The season, a duel between Red Bull’s Verstappen and McLaren’s Norris, had long required a head-to-head race between the two, and ultimately they delivered brilliantly, if not for the lead. In the end, after battling for more than ten laps and having no choice, Norris finally overtook Verstappen on the track for third place when the checkered flag fell and Verstappen was fourth.

However, as Norris received a five-second penalty for going off the track while overtaking, the positions were reversed, leaving Norris unhappy that his team had not told him to give up the spot to avoid the penalty , but McLaren was equally confident in the decision. The stewards’ decision was fundamentally wrong.

It was a somewhat unsatisfying end to a hard-fought and fair duel after Norris, who had lost the lead from pole at the start of the race, came back strongly to win the battle against Verstappen. It was a brave performance, but overall Verstappen emerged from the weekend as the winner in the title fight.

He has extended his lead to 57 points, a net loss of five points in Texas for Norris, far from what the British rider needs, although the pace he showed at the end when the Dutchman struggled put him in last five races will make you optimistic.

Nevertheless, it was an exciting result that showed how closely the two drivers fit together. When both had decided to make a single stop, Norris had driven longer and came up to his rival in the final third with fresher tires and chased him furiously. The pair competed over corner after corner, but Verstappen held his nerve and defended with verve and skill as the British driver sought every angle in a thrilling battle.

On lap 52, Norris finally found his way past at Turn 12, but when Verstappen braked too late on the inside line, both drivers went wide off the track, allowing Norris to move into first place.

This was illegal under the rules, but the question arose as to whether Verstappen deliberately did not slow down enough in the corner to push both of them to the edge of the race, knowing that overtaking would then be overruled.

Verstappen was upset that the British driver had gone off the track and Norris felt he already had the space after the corner. McLaren could have told Norris to give the place back, but the team was convinced that their man was in the lead in the corner and both cars had gone off the track. Again the Dutchman.

Both drivers were convinced they were in the right, but the stewards found against Norris in what Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff said was another example of inconsistent decision-making, all of which will lead to a debate about the rules and how they should be interpreted quickly fall silent.

Overall, pace-wise, even between the two title contenders it was more or less a win, but Verstappen will be happier. Five meetings remain, including two sprint races, and while the task facing Norris remains a challenge, at least he remains in the fight.

With all the attention focused on their World Championship rivals at the time, there was also a fascinating late season, with Ferrari now poised to play a role in the title fight and the tension building hugely ahead of the final run-in.

The day belonged entirely to Ferrari, showing that they have turned their car on its head and the Scuderia will be strengthened in their belief that they still have a chance of the constructors’ title. Leclerc had taken the lead at the start and didn’t relinquish it after Norris lost the spot from pole position when Verstappen jumped inside and pushed him wide, allowing Leclerc to shoot anyway and overtake both to get away from the to take the lead from fourth place on the grid.

It was enough for Leclerc’s third win of the season and the gap to Verstappen in third place was 19 seconds in the end. An immense lead that both Norris and Verstappen cannot ignore as they expect Ferrari to play a big role in next week’s clash in Mexico.