Scuderia Ferrari delivered a commanding performance at the United States Grand Prix, securing a one-two finish at the iconic Circuit of the Americas. Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz led the charge, executing flawless strategies and demonstrating superior tire management to clinch Ferrari's 87th one-two finish—their second of the season after Australia.
Starting from the second row, Leclerc seized the initiative immediately. As the lights went out, he capitalized on the tussle between Lando Norris and Max Verstappen at Turn 1, swiftly moving into the lead. "It feels good to bring home a victory at the start of this triple header," Leclerc stated post-race. "The whole team did an amazing job to make this happen and a 1-2 brings us a good amount of points in the fight for the Constructors’ title."
Carlos Sainz, who found himself temporarily boxed in by the dueling Norris and Verstappen, showcased adaptability and precision. "My race was compromised at the start as I got blocked by Lando and Max fighting in front of me," Sainz commented. Recognizing the need for a change, the Ferrari pit wall switched Sainz's strategy, allowing for an effective undercut on Verstappen. This decision was pivotal, as it allowed Sainz to finish in P2, marking his sixth podium of the season and solidifying Ferrari's strategic success.
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Scuderia Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz (55), of Spain, races during the Formula 1 U.S. Grand Prix auto race at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024.
While the Ferrari drivers executed their race plans with precision, the drama unfolded behind them. Norris, who initially dropped to fourth, fought valiantly to regain ground. His efforts were thwarted by a five-second penalty for an off-track overtake on Verstappen, relegating him to fourth despite crossing the line in third. Verstappen, thus, secured the final podium spot, extending his championship lead over Norris to 57 points. "I thought I could hang onto second but Carlos did a good job," Norris reflected, acknowledging the challenge he faced with deteriorating tires.
The race also highlighted significant performances from other drivers. George Russell, starting from the pit-lane after a qualifying crash, fought back to secure sixth place. Despite serving a penalty for a track incident with Valtteri Bottas, Russell’s recovery drive was a testament to his skill and determination. In contrast, Lewis Hamilton's race ended prematurely with a spin on lap two, a disappointing outcome for the five-time COTA winner.
Fred Vasseur, Ferrari's Team Principal, praised the team's collective effort: "It was the perfect Sunday. We have done a very good job this weekend, scoring a lot of points but we have to stay focused and not think we are champions just because of today’s result." Vasseur emphasized the importance of strategic execution and the advantage Ferrari held throughout the race weekend.
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Other standout performances included Liam Lawson’s impressive climb from 19th to ninth, and Nico Hulkenberg securing eighth place for Haas, delighting the home crowd. Williams rookie Franco Colapinto rounded out the top ten, impressing by outperforming his teammate Alex Albon.
As the Formula 1 circus heads to the high-altitude Mexico City Grand Prix, Ferrari remains focused on leveraging their momentum. With unique challenges posed by the altitude, Vasseur stressed the need for meticulous preparation and strategy adaptation: "Next week in Mexico will be a completely different story with the altitude making it a one-off race."
Ferrari’s dominant performance in Austin not only boosts their morale but also sets a promising tone for their continued pursuit of the Constructors' Championship.