That a real title fight is still on the horizon this season is evidenced by the fascinating, dramatic and controversial wheel-to-wheel contest between the two protagonists Max Verstappen and Lando Norris in the US. It was shown in the best possible way for F1. Grand Prix. But poor Charles Leclerc is disappointed that his dominant win in Austin and Ferrari's resurgence in a one-two alongside Carlos Sainz were all but overshadowed by the Texas sunshine. It was.
This season, the battle between Red Bull’s Verstappen and McLaren’s Norris has long been an all-out showdown between the two, and although they were unable to take the lead, both finally achieved a stunning victory. . Racing over 10 laps in the closing stages, with nothing to choose between, when Norris finally overtook Verstappen on track for third place, the flag fell, leaving Verstappen in fourth place.
However, the position was reversed after Norris was given a five-second penalty for going off the track while overtaking, and Norris was dissatisfied that his team did not tell him to move back to avoid the penalty. , McLaren was equally satisfied with the decision to race. The stewards were fundamentally wrong.
Norris, who had lost the lead early in the race from pole position, made a strong comeback and won the battle with Verstappen, but the result was a fiercely fought and fair scrap, and the outcome was somewhat unsatisfying. It was a valiant effort, but in the grand scheme of things Verstappen was the winner of the title race from the weekend.
He extended his lead to 57 points, a net loss of five points for Norris at Texas, but the pace he showed late in the game gives Norris optimism as the Dutchman struggles. However, it is far from what a British driver needs.
Nevertheless, it was a thrilling conclusion that showed how closely matched the two drivers were. When both drivers opted for a one-stop, Norris gained further distance and closed in on his rival on fresh tires in the final third, giving chase furiously. The two raced from corner to corner, but Verstappen held his nerve and with great physical strength and skill, defended himself as the British driver targeted him from every angle.
On lap 52, Norris finally succeeded in reversing the race at Turn 12, but Verstappen’s late braking on the inside line sent both drivers wide off the track, allowing Norris to move up the order.
Although this was illegal under the rules, questions arose as to whether Verstappen had deliberately not slowed down enough to push both of them out of the corner, knowing that his overtake would be canceled.
Verstappen was upset that the British driver had gone off track, and felt that Norris had already won the place in the corner. McLaren could have instructed Norris to take the place back, but, convinced that Norris had taken the lead into the corner and both cars had gone off the track, the team instructed Norris to hold the position without giving up the position. Also Dutch.
Both drivers were convinced they were right, but the stewards ruled against Norris. What Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff has suggested is another example of inconsistent decision-making, all of which will spark a debate over the rules and their interpretation. It won’t shut up anytime soon.
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Charles Leclerc takes the checkered flag. Photo: Patrick Fallon/AP
In the big picture from a pace perspective, the gap between the two title contenders has narrowed more or less, but Verstappen will be happier. With five meetings remaining, including two sprint races, the task facing Norris remains difficult, but at least he remains in the fight.
While all eyes were on their World Championship rivals, Ferrari were poised to play a role in the title fight, and an interesting late-season variable added to the mix, ratcheting up the tension for the final push.
The day was completely Ferrari’s and showed that they have turned the car around and the Scuderia will be encouraged to believe they still have a chance of winning the constructors’ title. Leclerc took the lead at the start but held on to it even after Norris lost pole position as Verstappen darted inside and pushed Norris wide, but Leclerc conceded a shot and a pass and was fourth on the grid. rose to the top from
Leclerc’s third win of the season proved to be enough, with a 19-second gap between him and third-placed Verstappen at the end of the race. This large lead cannot be ignored by Norris and Verstappen as they believe Ferrari will be heavily involved when they meet in Mexico next week.
