MOTORSPORT: Verstappen wins US Formula 1 Grand Prix
F1 world champ battles bad brakes and fends off a late Hamilton charge for 50th career GP winUPDATED 23/10/2023 11:50am: Post-race, both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc were stripped of their results for failing technical inspection, with the underfloor skid planks on their respective Mercedes and Ferrari worn over the allowance.
Subsequently, Lando Norris has been promoted to second, joined on the podium by Carlos Sainz.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE PUBLISHED 23/10/2023 9:30am: Max Verstappen’s incredible season has continued with victory in the United States Grand Prix from the Circuit of the Americas, his 15th success from 18 races in 2023 that now takes his career tally to 50 wins.
Starting from sixth on the grid after losing his fastest qualifying lap via a track limits breach, the Red Bull driver had to battle brake issues throughout.
Ultimately, he just held off the advances of a rejuvenated Lewis Hamilton, who enjoyed a freshly upgraded Mercedes.
“I think the whole race, I was struggling a lot with the brakes,” said Verstappen.
“Around here, there are quite a few braking points, so I couldn’t really have the same feeling as yesterday.
“So, that made my race a bit tougher out there today … you could see it was very close in the end.”
For the first time, the event encompassed an F1 Sprint, which saw Verstappen dominate from pole position after chopping off Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) into the first corner.
The race was a relatively straightforward affair, with Hamilton second from Leclerc, Lando Norris (McLaren) and Sergio Perez (Red Bull).
George Russell (Mercedes) was penalised 5sec for overtaking Oscar Piastri outside of the track limits, while the McLaren driver and fellow Aussie Daniel Ricciardo (AlphaTauri) both battled in the 19-lap encounter, as they finished 10th and 12th respectively.
From the start of the main race, Norris pounced from second on the grid to take the lead from polesitter Leclerc, who settled ahead of Carlos Sainz (Ferrari), Hamilton and Verstappen.
Contact on the opening circuit between Piastri and Esteban Ocon saw the Alpine retire after six circuits with sidepod damage, his third retirement in five races, while Piastri made it to lap 10 of 56 before overheating issues stopped his charge.
At the front of the field, Norris continued in the lead as the Ferrari duo fell behind Hamilton and Verstappen by lap 11, with the Dutchman triggering the opening set of pit services when he stopped on lap 16.
Hamilton ran long but lost a position to Verstappen, who then forged past Norris for the lead on lap 28.
Norris then kicked off the final pit stop round on lap 35, followed a lap later by Verstappen, who lost ground with a tardy service.
Hamilton pitted late, and finished with a flourish, passing Norris for second on lap 49, as Sainz got the upper hand on his teammate Leclerc on lap 50, who also lost a place to Sergio Perez (Red Bull) three laps later.
Fernando Alonso was a late retirement after suffering a tough weekend, which earlier saw both Aston Martins miss out on progressing to Q2.
In the end, Verstappen nursed brake issues in the closing laps to just hold off Hamilton, while Norris cruised to his third straight podium in third.
Sainz was fourth ahead of Perez, Leclerc, Russell, Gasly, Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) and Yuki Tsunoda (AlphaTauri), who pitted late and claimed the fastest lap bonus point.
Meanwhile, it proved to be a tough return to action for Ricciardo, whose single-stop strategy backfired, and following a late second stop, was ultimately classified as the last finisher in 17th.
Next weekend, Formula 1 travels south for the Mexican Grand Prix.
2023 US Formula 1 Grand Prix results:
- Max Verstappen, Red Bull
- Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
- Lando Norris, McLaren
- Carlos Sainz, Ferrari
- Sergio Perez, Red Bull
- Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
- George Russell, Mercedes
- Pierre Gasly, Alpine
- Lance Stroll, Aston Martin
- Yuki Tsunoda, AlphaTauri
- Alex Albon, Williams
- Logan Sargeant, Williams
- Nico Hulkenberg, Haas
- Valtteri Bottas, Alfa Romeo
- Zhou Guanyu, Alfa Romeo
- Kevin Magnussen, Haas
- Daniel Ricciardo, AlphaTauri
- DNF. Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin
- DNF. Oscar Piastri, McLaren
- DNF. Esteban Ocon, Alpine
2023 Formula 1 championship standings:
- Max Verstappen – 466
- Sergio Perez – 238
- Lewis Hamilton – 219
- Fernando Alonso – 183
- Carlos Sainz – 168
- Charles Leclerc – 159
- Lando Norris – 156
- George Russell – 139
- Oscar Piastri – 83
- Pierre Gasly – 52
Related: MOTORSPORT: Piastri wins F1 sprint
Related: MOTORSPORT: Piastri breaks through for maiden F1 podium
Related: MOTORSPORT: Verstappen claims US F1 GP
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