Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz provided Ferrari with a much-needed boost by securing a 1-2 finish in Austin last night. This marked Ferrari’s first double podium since the Australian Grand Prix earlier this year and their first 1-2 finish in the Americas since 2006 when Michael Schumacher and Felipe Massa achieved the feat.
For those who watched the opening laps, the tone of the weekend became immediately clear. The first corner proved slippery for many drivers, penalties were dished out like sweets, and the various sectors of the Circuit of the Americas played host to some brilliant overtakes.
When the lights went out, pole-sitter Lando Norris seemed to make the better start, leading into Turn 1. However, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen forced the McLaren wide, allowing Leclerc to seize control of the race.
The Ferrari driver took full advantage of the situation, and from that moment on, he held firm command. Sainz, running close behind, executed a well-timed undercut during his pit stop, overtaking Verstappen and securing second place.
Lewis Hamilton was the race’s only retirement after a rear wheel spin on Lap 3, which left his Mercedes stranded in the gravel.
As the race progressed, attention shifted to the increasingly tense battle between Verstappen and Norris for third. Norris had managed to pass the Dutchman on Lap 43, but the legality of the overtake was quickly brought into question, with
Red Bull immediately complained about Norris exceeding track limits. The stewards ultimately concurred, handing Norris a five-second penalty, which, although insufficient to drop him out of the top four, cost him the podium.
Behind the leading trio, Oscar Piastri drove a relatively uneventful race to secure fifth for McLaren. George Russell, despite starting from the pit lane, made impressive progress throughout the race, eventually finishing sixth in his Mercedes. Russell’s recovery drive was one of the highlights of the afternoon, as he navigated the field with measured aggression.
Sergio Perez, meanwhile, endured a quiet race by Red Bull’s usual standards but still managed to claim seventh, adding valuable points to the team’s constructors’ championship tally — something Red Bull desperately needs at this stage.
Haas driver Nico Hülkenberg followed closely behind, delivering a commendable eighth-place finish, a strong result for the American outfit on home soil.
Further down the order, Liam Lawson marked his return to the Red Bull grid with a ninth-place finish, scoring two points in his first race back in 2024. Despite the departure of many a tearful Australian fan after Daniel Ricciardo’s exit, Lawson has shown a certain improvement for the Red Bull sister team.
Franco Colapinto rounded out the top ten for Williams, putting in a solid performance to secure a point while narrowly missing out on the fastest lap, which was claimed by Esteban Ocon in the Alpine.
Pierre Gasly and Yuki Tsunoda had less fortunate outings, both receiving penalties for exceeding track limits during overtakes. Gasly finished twelfth, while Tsunoda came home fourteenth. Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll struggled to find pace throughout the race, finishing thirteenth and fifteenth, respectively.
The Formula One paddock now heads to Mexico City for the next round of the 2024 season, where drivers will compete at the famed Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.
Leclerc expressed satisfaction with his eighth career victory, acknowledging the challenges of the weekend but highlighting how the car’s performance improved significantly during the race. He noted the team’s caution regarding potential gains from their rivals but praised Ferrari’s flawless execution, describing the 1-2 finish as the perfect result.
