Race Notes - Leclerc wins Ferrari 1-2

By Mark Karp

Charles Leclerc, after taking the lead out of the first corner, won the United States GP in his Ferrari, a one-two Ferrari finish, with Carlos Sainz finishing second, 8.562 seconds behind.

The win is Leclerc’s third win of the season, and eighth of his career.

On the track Lando Norris was third, but after his and Max Verstappen’s late race battle for the position Norris was handed a 5-second penalty for leaving the track and gaining a position.

So Max Verstappen took third place in his Red Bull-Honda, 19.412 seconds behind the winner.

Lando Norris (20.356s) with his penalty finished fourth in his McLaren-Mercedes.

Oscar Piastri (21.921s) in the second McLaren was fifth, followed by George Russell (56.295s), after starting his Mercedes GP from the pit lane, finished sixth, Sergio Perez (59.072s) in the second Red Bull was seventh, Nico Hullkenberg (1m02.957s) in the Haas-Ferrari was eighth, Liam Lawson (1m10.563s) in the VCARB-Honda was ninth, and Franco Colapinto (1m11.979s) in the Williams-Mercedes took the final point in tenth place.

Before the start of a hot, sunny race, the two title rivals Norris is on pole with Verstappen alongside on the front row, the Ferraris of Sainz and Leclerc on row 2, Piastri and Gasly on row 3, Alonso and Magnussen on row 4, and Perez and Tsunoda rounding out the top ten. Hamilton starts from 17th while Russell will start from the pitlane.

The front twelve on the grid starting on medium tyres. Stroll, Colapinto, Hamilton, Lawson and Russell starting on hard tyres. Two stops expected.

At 2pm local time the drivers set off on the formation lap, on the grid the lights went off and the race began with Verstappen jumping down the inside of turn one, but Leclerrc taking he lead - Norris to fourth. Later in the lap Sainz goes down the inside of Verstappen - who runs wide but keeps the position. Hamilton is up to 12th,

On lap 3 Hamilton spins, goes off the track and is stuck in the gravel trap. The Safety Car is deployed.

Behind the Safety Car Leclerc leadsVerstappen, Sainz, Norris, Piastri, Gasly, Magnussen, Tsunoda, Perez, Alonso in tenth, Hulkenberg, Lawson, Zhou, Colapinto in 15th, Bottas, Russell, Ocon, and Albon in 19th.

On lap 6 the Safety Car comes in and the race resumes with Leclerc leading the field with Verstappen, Sainz, Norris and Piastri following.

On lap 7 Stroll passes Albon for 18th.

Hulkenberg passes Alonso for tenth.

Lawson and Alonso battle.

At lap 10 Leclerc leads Verstappen by 2.9 seconds, followed by Sainz (4.5s), Norris (6.4s), Piastri (8.9s), Gasly (11.0s), Magnussen (12.8s), Tsunoda (13.9s), Perez (14.7s) and Hulkenberg (16.5s) in tenth.

Zhou spins but continues.

Lawson passes Alonso for 11th.

On lap 14 Russell passes Bottas for 14th place.

Zhou pits for medium tyres.

On lap 15 passes Colapinto for 13th.

Red Bull tell Verstappen that there is an issue with the car that they will address at the pitstop.

Russell is given a 5-second penalty for forcing Bottas off track.

On lap 17 Perez passes Tsunoda for eighth.Russell passes Alonso for 11th.

Magnussen and Tsunoda pit. Gasly pits as well.

At lap 20 Leclerc leads Verstappen by 8.3 seconds, followed by Sainz (9.9s), Norris (13.5s), Piastri (17.3s), Perez (30.5s), Hulkenberg (33.6s), Lawson (36.9s), Russell (38.5s), and Alonso (41.4s) in tenth.

On lap 22 Russell passes Lawson for eighth.

Sainz pits from third for hard tyres and rejoins fifth.

On lap 23 Colapinto passes Alonso for tenth place.

On lap0 23 Sainz sets fast lap at 1m38.731s.

Leclerc is hoping to make only a one-stopper. Verstappen is complaining that his tyres are getting bad.

On lap 26 Verstappen pits from second for hard tyres and rejoins fifth behind Sainz.

Magnussen passes Ocon for 12th.

On lap 27 Leclerc pits for hard tyres and rejoins third. Perez pits for hard tyres and rejoins 11th.

Stroll passes Albon for 13th.

Hulkenberg pits for hard tyres and rejoins 12th. Hulkenberg passes Gasly.

On lap 28 Leclerc sets fast lap at 1m38.662s.

At lap 30 Norris leads Piastri by 4.9 seconds, followed by Leclerc (6.3s), Sainz (13.1s), Verstappen (16..4s), Russell (27.9s), Lawson (37.4s), Colapinto (41.6s), Perez (44.3s), and Magnussen in tenth.

On lap 32

Norris pits for hard tyres and rejoins fifth behind Verstappen.

Piastri pits for hard tyres and rejoins fifth.

Gasly is given a 5-second penalty for passing with four tyres going off track.

On lap 33 Norris sets fast lap at 1m38.641s and again at 1m38.042s, and again on lap 35 at 1m37.918s.

Tsunoda is given a 5-second penalty.

Alonso passes Bottas for 14th.

Verstappen is complaining to the team about his tyres.

On lap 37 Lawson pits for his first stop for medium tyres and rejoins 12th.

Russell and Colapinto both yet to pit.

Norris is closing on Verstappen.

Magnussen pits.

Pm lap 38 Leclerc sets fast lap at 1m37.834.

Colapinto pits.

On lap 41 Russell pits and serves his penalty, and rejoins eighth.

Tsunoda spins.

On lap 41 Sainz sets fast lap at 1m37.786s.

On lap 42 Russell sets fast lap at 1m37.656s.

On lap 44 Norris closes to under a second behind Verstappen.

At lap 45 Leclerc leads Sainz by 5.2 seconds, followed by Verstappen (13.2s), Norris (13.8s), Piastri (22.3s), Perez (51.4s), Russell (58.0s), Hulkenberg (59.5s), Lawson (1m09.3s) and Colapinto (1m14.3s) in tenth.

Norris is all over the back of Verstappen.

On lap 46 Colapinto sets fast lap at 1m37.611s.

On lap 49 Norris continues to chase Verstappen.

On lap 51 Norris and Verstappen go side-by-side, but Verstappen stays in front.

Norris goes side-by-side into turn one, Norris is pushed off track and gets third position. Will he be penalized?

Russell is closing on Perez.

The stewards are looking at Norris’ move. Also looking if he exceeded track limits too many times.

On lap 54 Ocon sets fast lap at 1m37.330s.

At the checkered flag Leclerc wins ahead of Sainz, Norris and Verstappen.

Norris is given a 5-second penalty for leaving the track and gaining a postion.