F1 Results Today: Verstappen loses out to Red Bull rivals after LATE

“Late Penalty Drama Costs Verstappen as Leclerc Secures Victory at US Grand Prix”

The 2024 US Grand Prix delivered plenty of drama, with penalties, crashes, and team strategies playing a key role in shaping the final results. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc came out on top, securing his third victory of the season, but the race was overshadowed by a late penalty that affected reigning champion Max Verstappen’s bid for a podium finish.

In the closing stages, the battle for third place between Lando Norris and Verstappen took center stage. Norris managed to overtake Verstappen, but in doing so, he exceeded track limits. The stewards determined that Norris gained an advantage by leaving the track and handed him a five-second penalty. This dropped Norris down the order, costing him a spot on the podium. As a result, Verstappen moved up to third, behind the two Ferraris, sparking debate among fans and drivers over the fairness of the ruling.

Leclerc’s victory was sealed early on when he overtook Norris on the opening lap. From there, Ferrari’s strategy was executed to perfection, with Carlos Sainz playing a vital supporting role. Sainz’s key moment came during the pit stops when he successfully performed an undercut, which allowed him to stay ahead of Verstappen. This created a buffer for Leclerc, who maintained his lead and was never seriously challenged for the rest of the race. Sainz finished second, completing a Ferrari 1-2 and capping off a dominant day for the team.

Meanwhile, Mercedes endured a nightmare race. Lewis Hamilton’s hopes of a strong result were dashed after a crash on lap three at Turn 19, forcing him to retire and bringing out an early safety car. It was a disappointing weekend for the seven-time world champion, who was aiming for a podium finish. To make matters worse for Mercedes, George Russell was penalized with a five-second penalty for forcing Valtteri Bottas off the track during a midfield battle. Russell, who struggled to make significant progress after his penalty, finished the race in sixth place, leaving Mercedes with little to celebrate.

A standout performance of the day came from Liam Lawson, who replaced Daniel Ricciardo at VCARB. Lawson impressed with a ninth-place finish, outpacing his teammate Yuki Tsunoda and securing points for his team. This result justified the team’s decision to bring him in, as Lawson continued to show his potential by finishing ahead of more experienced drivers.

McLaren also had a strong showing despite Norris’ penalty. Norris crossed the line in fourth after his demotion, while his teammate Oscar Piastri finished in fifth. The team displayed solid pace throughout the weekend, and while Norris missed out on a podium due to the penalty, McLaren’s performance was still commendable.

In the end, Leclerc took the win by a comfortable margin over Sainz, with Verstappen completing the podium. Ferrari’s 1-2 finish was a significant achievement, showing the team’s improving form as the season progresses. However, the US Grand Prix will likely be remembered as much for the penalty drama and crashes as it will be for Ferrari’s dominance.

Final Results:

1. Charles Leclerc [Ferrari] – 1:39.518

2. Carlos Sainz [Ferrari] – + 8.562

3. Max Verstappen [Red Bull] – + 19.412

4. Lando Norris [McLaren] – + 20.354

5. Oscar Piastri [McLaren] – + 21.921

6. George Russell [Mercedes] – + 56.925

7. Sergio Perez [Red Bull] – + 59.072

8. Nico Hulkenberg [Haas] – + 62.957

9. Liam Lawson [VCARB] – + 70.563

10. Franco Colapinto [Williams] – + 71.979

It was a day full of action, penalties, and team strategies, with Ferrari ultimately seizing the top two spots and Verstappen left questioning what might have been.