Watch: Throwback to Kimi Raikkonen wiping the smile out of Verstappen's face after the 2017 US GP

The 2024 United States Grand Prix is just one week away from us and it feels like a long time. Formula 1 fans can't wait to see the thrilling first race in the Americas. The COTA (Circuit of the Americas) has seen many exciting races in the past. One of those thrilling races happened in 2017 when Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel were in the title race. But Kimi and Max out of nowhere stole the show and became Meme content on the internet at that time.

In those times Ferrari and Mercedes were the title contenders and Red Bull was the third team in the grid. Lewis Hamilton qualified the fastest and started in pole position alongside his title rival Sebastian Vettel and teammate Valtteri Bottas.

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2017 US GP -Kimi vs Max

From joy to despair for @Max33Verstappen#USGP 🇺🇸 #F1 pic.twitter.com/oI5Cc7eqxW

— Formula 1 (@F1) October 22, 2017

Hamilton led the race with full advantage and finished in pole position keeping behind his rival Sebastian Vettel in P2. But the main highlight of the race was the battle between Max Verstappen and Kimi Raikkonen in the last lap. Max Verstappen Overtook Kimi Raikkonen on the final lap of the race and celebrated his P3 on the team radio and Red Bull Garage was in complete joy after Max Verstappen's thrilling final pass over Kimi Raikkonen.

Verstappen entered the Podium room and spoke with Sebastian Vettel about the race and his pass over Kimi. But suddenly Kimi Raikkonen came into the room and the FIA stewards told Max Verstappen that he was given a 5-second penalty for passing Kimi out of the track cutting the corner and getting the advantage.

Within minutes Max Verstappen’s Joy and Laughter changed into despair and Kimi Raikkonen was awarded the P3 position. At that time Max Verstappen was still very young and was seen as a rookie. He often crashes and damages his car because of his aggressive nature those times. This was one of the lessons Max Verstappen learnt in his Formula 1 career over the years and these learnings made him the three-time world champion that he is today. 

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