Leclerc wins, Verstappen on the podium after....... Read More

Leclerc wins, Verstappen on the podium after penalty for Norris

Ferrari showcased impressive speed during the recent Sprint event, with Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz securing P1 and P2 finishes, respectively. The focus of the race shifted towards the championship battle between two rivals, which intensified in the final ten laps. Lando Norris attempted to overtake Max Verstappen on Lap 52 but unfortunately ran off the track, resulting in a five-second penalty that ultimately placed him in fourth position.

Oscar Piastri finished strongly in fifth, while George Russell made an impressive recovery from a pit lane start. He overtook Sergio Perez on the second-to-last lap, securing P6. Perez faced challenges as he struggled to pass Franco Colapinto, who was on older hard tires, losing valuable time in the process.

Nico Hulkenberg contributed four points for Haas, finishing eighth at one of their three home Grands Prix. Both Liam Lawson and Colapinto performed well, starting on hard tires and finishing in P9 and P10, respectively.

All ten drivers in the top positions began the Grand Prix on new medium tires. Mercedes faced a tough qualifying session, prompting Lewis Hamilton and Russell to start on new hard tires.

At the race’s start, Verstappen was aggressive, diving inside Norris. However, both went wide, allowing Leclerc to take the lead. Norris lost another position to Sainz and expressed his frustration over the Turn 1 incident, comparing it to a previous incident in Hungary. Sainz attempted to pass Verstappen at Turn 12 but could not secure the position. Additionally, Alex Albon spun Esteban Ocon at Turn 1, contributing to the early drama.

Hamilton, starting from the back, made significant progress, gaining five positions initially. However, on Lap 2, he lost control of his car and ended up in the gravel at the same corner where Russell had crashed during the previous day’s Sprint, triggering the first Safety Car since the Canadian Grand Prix. Following the restart, Verstappen closely followed Leclerc but failed to make a move at Turn 1.

Russell, starting from the pit lane, was aggressive after the Safety Car period but received a five-second penalty for forcing Valtteri Bottas off the track during an overtaking maneuver.

By Lap 20, Leclerc had built an impressive lead of over eight seconds ahead of Verstappen. Two laps later, Ferrari executed a strategic undercut with Sainz, prompting Verstappen to respond four laps later, resulting in Sainz jumping ahead of him. Leclerc reacted to Verstappen’s strategy on Lap 27, which allowed Norris to take the lead of the race.

Both McLaren drivers made their pit stops on Laps 32 and 33, with Norris rejoining the track in fourth, nearly six seconds behind Verstappen. He then began to set the fastest laps, steadily closing the gap to the Red Bull driver. Verstappen expressed dissatisfaction with his hard tires as Norris continued to gain on him.

On Lap 44, Norris was within DRS range of Verstappen. By Lap 47, he made an attempt to pass, but Verstappen defended effectively in the technical sections of the track. On Lap 51, Norris was close again, yet he could not overtake Verstappen. Finally, on Lap 52, he managed to complete the move at Turn 12 but went off track in the process. McLaren opted not to relinquish the position, leading to Norris receiving a five-second penalty that would affect his final standings.

The race highlighted the fierce competition among the top teams and drivers, showcasing Ferrari’s early dominance and the strategic battles that unfolded throughout the event. Despite the setbacks for some drivers, including penalties and lost positions, the event underscored the thrilling nature of Formula 1 racing and set the stage for the remaining races in the season.