Max Verstappen led from lights to flag in a dominant display as all the drama happened behind him in an intriguing United States Grand Prix on Sunday.
The podium was finished off by Lando Norris in second after a race long scrap with Charles Leclerc who used an alternate strategy to get ahead of the McLaren at the start but could not hold on and came home in third.
Norris did not get the start he would have wanted, as he was hoping to challenge for the lead but got wheelspin and was not able to get anywhere near the reigning champion.
Ferrari took a big risk putting Leclerc on the soft tyre, but it paid off for the Scuderia as he jumped Norris off the line and was challenging Verstappen into turn two.
Charles Leclerc was able to jump Lando Norris off the start
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The choice by Leclerc would prove costly for the Briton as he spent the opening laps of the race stuck behind the Monegasque driver and being pressurised by his fellow Briton, Lewis Hamilton.
A Virtual Safety Car was called after Kimi Antonelli and Carlos Sainz came to blows and broke the suspension of the Spaniard’s car.
The DNF only compounded Williams' struggles as Alex Albon was spun around by Gabriel Bortoletto on the opening lap.
Ferrari were the surprise of the day as both Hamilton and Leclerc were able to hold the McLarens at bay. It had been expected that the Constructors’ champions would drive their way through the field, and while that did happen, it took much longer than expected.
Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris put on a great show for the fans in Texas
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As Leclerc’s tyres degraded, Norris and the Ferrari put on a show as they fought for lap after lap, putting on an incredible display of skill and bravery as they raced centimetres apart but did not make contact.
The Briton was finally able to get past the Ferrari on lap 21 to try to charge down his championship rival at Red Bull. Unfortunately for Norris, Leclerc pitted early and was able to get back ahead and would stay there for the rest of the race.
Norris took the opportunity to cool down his tyres and with five laps of the race to go he threw his car down the inside of Leclerc and managed to get his car stopped on the dirty side of the track and take crucial points in his championship charge.
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Oscar Piastri had a very quiet race, much like his pace for the rest of the weekend; he was unable to really mount a challenge to the cars in front, sitting a couple of seconds behind Hamilton for most of the race in P5.
Hamilton had looked to be on his first podium in red, but after the pit stops, the seven-time champion dropped off from the top three, ultimately finishing in P4.
Oscar Piastri had a lonely race in the Lone Star state
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Hamilton now holds the unwanted record of taking the longest time to achieve a podium for Ferrari. This Grand Prix would have been the Briton’s last opportunity to keep away from that fate.
F1 will continue its tour of the Americas as the teams will now head to the Mexican Grand Prix, where Verstappen will be hoping to continue to close the gap to the McLarens.