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Verstappen wins, Hamilton disqualified in dramatic race | 2023 US GP recap
Formula 1 is back this weekend after a three-week break, and the highly anticipated race will take place at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas. The United States Grand Prix is one of three races held in North America, and it has been a permanent fixture on the F1 calendar since 2012. Last year, Max Verstappen dominated the race weekend, securing victories in both the sprint and the main event. As we approach the 2024 edition of the race, let’s take a look back at the dramatic 2023 United States Grand Prix, which marked the 18th round of the season.
Verstappen Triumphs at COTA
In 2023, Max Verstappen continued his dominance of the season by winning both the sprint and the full race at COTA, despite starting the main race from sixth on the grid and dealing with brake issues. Verstappen’s victory at the United States Grand Prix was his 15th win of the season, bringing his total career wins to 50. His performance once again demonstrated his exceptional skill and the strength of Red Bull’s car, even in the face of challenges.
Although Verstappen didn’t qualify at the front, he quickly moved up the field and was in third place by lap 12. He eventually took the lead from McLaren’s Lando Norris on lap 28 and held off strong challenges from both Norris and Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton. Hamilton, whose race strategy differed from Verstappen’s, began to close the gap towards the end of the race. His overtaking move on Norris was one of the standout moments of the race, showcasing his experience and racecraft. However, despite his efforts, Hamilton finished second, just 2.2 seconds behind Verstappen. Norris completed the podium in third place.
Disqualification Drama
The excitement didn’t end with the checkered flag, as post-race inspections led to a dramatic twist. Both Lewis Hamilton, who had finished second, and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who had crossed the line in sixth, were disqualified due to skid block violations on their cars. This disqualification promoted Lando Norris to second and Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz to third, making the final podium lineup quite different from what fans saw on race day.
In addition to the disqualifications, more controversy arose after Haas, whose driver Nico Hülkenberg had missed out on points, requested a review of the race results. Haas pointed out that several drivers, including Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll and Williams’ Alex Albon, had committed multiple track limit violations that were not penalized during the race. While the stewards ultimately upheld the original results, they urged the FIA to reconsider the track limits policy to avoid similar issues in future races. This led to several changes being made to the circuit for the 2024 race, in an effort to minimize the potential for track limits controversies.
Overall, the 2023 United States Grand Prix was filled with excitement, on-track battles, and post-race drama, with Max Verstappen once again proving why he was the man to beat throughout the season. As F1 returns to Austin for the 2024 race, fans will be eagerly awaiting another thrilling contest.
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