Charles Leclerc Wins at COTA for Ferrari 1–2, Verstappen 3rd and Retains GFT P1 Ranking
20 October 2024
By Bob Francis, Managing Editor
Go Full Throttle Racing News
AUSTIN, TX — The 2024 United States Grand Prix in Austin turned into a showcase of Ferrari dominance of the Circuit of the Americas track. Charles Leclerc led a dominant Ferrari one-two finish, with teammate Carlos Sainz securing second place.
The race began with Lando Norris holding the lead, but a fierce battle with Max Verstappen saw Norris pushed wide, allowing Leclerc to seize the lead. From there, Leclerc maintained an unchallenged drive to victory. Sainz, benefiting from an undercut during his pit stop, managed to secure second place ahead of Verstappen.
A significant moment in the race was the late-race battle between Norris and Verstappen. Norris overtook Verstappen for third place, but the move was deemed to have been made outside track limits, resulting in a five-second penalty for Norris. This penalty dropped him from third to fourth, promoting Verstappen to the final podium position.
Oscar Piastri finished fifth, showcasing the strength of the McLaren team. George Russell, who started from the pit lane, made an impressive recovery to finish sixth. Sergio Perez added to Red Bull’s points tally by finishing seventh, followed by Nico Hulkenberg of Haas in eighth.
Liam Lawson, on his first weekend back on the grid, scored points by finishing ninth, while Franco Colapinto rounded out the top ten. Lewis Hamilton was the sole retiree of the race, spinning off track early and beaching his Mercedes in the gravel.
Ferrari’s one-two finish in Austin is a significant reinforcement of their position as a formidable force in the championship.
Next Up:
Mexico GP from Mexico City on October 27
