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Charles Leclerc wins US Grand Prix as Verstappen extends his championship lead over Norris - Results

Charles Leclerc powered to victory at the US Grand Prix, leading Ferrari to a one-two finish, while Max Verstappen strengthened his grip on the championship standings.

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Shubham Shekhar
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Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz in special suit for Monza GP

Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz (Source: X)

Charles Leclerc powered to victory at the US Grand Prix, leading Ferrari to a one-two finish, while Max Verstappen strengthened his grip on the championship standings. Leclerc's flawless performance marked his third victory of the season and his eighth career win in Formula 1, as he capitalized on early chaos between title contenders Verstappen and Lando Norris.

Starting from fourth on the grid, Leclerc seized his opportunity when a fierce battle broke out between polesitter Norris and second-placed Verstappen at Turn 1. The clash allowed the Monegasque driver to slip into the lead, and from that point on, he delivered a controlled and masterful drive. Leclerc's pace and strategy were unmatched, ensuring his triumphant finish at the Circuit of the Americas.

Leclerc’s Ferrari teammate, Carlos Sainz, secured second place, celebrating his second-best finish of the season after his earlier win in Australia. The result cemented a fantastic day for Ferrari, who had been struggling to keep up with the dominant Red Bull and resurgent McLaren teams for much of the year. Sainz’s consistency throughout the race helped Ferrari claim an impressive one-two finish, lifting the spirits of the Scuderia’s fans.

A fierce battle for P3!

The most thrilling aspect of the race, however, was the intense battle between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris for the final spot on the podium. For the last 10 laps, the two drivers fought fiercely, exchanging positions in a captivating duel. Norris managed to cross the finish line in third place, but his moment of glory was short-lived.

A controversial move on lap 52, where Norris left the track and gained an advantage while overtaking Verstappen, resulted in a five-second time penalty for the McLaren driver. This penalty demoted Norris to fourth, allowing Verstappen to take third place and further extend his lead in the championship race.

Despite finishing behind the Ferrari duo, Verstappen’s third-place finish was enough to consolidate his position at the top of the driver standings. Meanwhile, Norris, though narrowly missing the podium, continued his strong season, holding his ground in the chase for the championship.

Leclerc’s win, along with Ferrari’s resurgence, adds excitement to the final leg of the season as the battle for supremacy intensifies. However, Verstappen remains in control, inching closer to yet another world title.

Here is the final result of US Grand Prix:

#

Driver

Team

Time

1

Charles Leclerc

Ferrari

LAP 56

2

Carlos Sainz

Ferrari

+8.562

3

Max Verstappen

Red Bull

+19.412

4

Lando Norris

McLaren

+20.354

5

Oscar Piastri

McLaren

+21.921

6

George Russell

Mercedes

+56.295

7

Sergio Pérez

Red Bull

+59.072

8

Nico Hulkenberg

Haas

+62.957

9

Liam Lawson

VCARB

+70.563

10

Franco Colapinto

Williams

+71.979

11

Kevin Magnussen

Haas

+79.782

12

Pierre Gasly

Alpine

+90.558

13

Fernando Alonso

Aston Martin

1L

14

Yuki Tsunoda

VCARB

1L

15

Lance Stroll

Aston Martin

1L

16

Alexander Albon

Williams

1L

17

Valtteri Bottas

Stake

1L

18

Esteban Ocon

Alpine

1L

19

Guanyu Zhou

Stake

1L

20

Lewis Hamilton

Mercedes

DNF

 

Formula 1 Max Verstappen Charles Leclerc Lando Norris Carlos Sainz US Grand Prix
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