The Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin witnessed a stunning 1-2 finish for Ferrari, with drivers Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz claiming a convincing victory.
Following George Russell’s crash in Q3, he was forced to start from the pit lane. Lawson and Zhou also began from the back after receiving penalties. With track temperatures soaring to 47 degrees, the Medium tires became the popular choice. Leclerc had a fantastic start, quickly taking the lead, while Verstappen and Norris fiercely battled at the first corner. Norris, starting from pole, dropped to fourth, while Hamilton and Lawson moved up to 12th and 14th, respectively. Albon and Ocon were pushed down the order after a collision.
Verstappen immediately faced pressure from Sainz. A yellow flag was waved when Hamilton ended up in the gravel at turn 19, prompting the Safety Car to deploy.
After the Safety Car returned to the pits on lap 6, Leclerc maintained his lead over Verstappen. The top five drivers began to establish a gap. Russell, starting from the back, steadily climbed into the top 10, while Zhou encountered problems at the first corner.
Beginning on lap 18, the undercut strategy proved effective as Magnussen passed Gasly. Sainz switched to Hard tires and quickly overtook Pérez. Russell continued to gain positions, while Red Bull responded late.
Norris and Piastri pitted on laps 32 and 33, respectively, but the Ferrari duo reclaimed the lead. Gasly struggled and received a penalty, while Tsunoda also faced punishment for an incident with Albon.
By lap 41, Russell made further advances, quickly closing the gap to the drivers ahead. On lap 53, Norris moved into third at turn 12, but both drivers exceeded track limits, allowing Verstappen to return to the podium.
Ultimately, Ferrari finished the race with a stunning 1-2 result. Leclerc secured his third victory of the season, while Sainz capped off a successful day. Norris crossed the line in third, but a late penalty relegated him, handing the position back to Verstappen. Piastri, Russell, and Pérez followed behind.
Ferrari demonstrated a strong resurgence in the standings, while Red Bull faced ongoing challenges. McLaren struggled throughout the race in Austin. The championship battle continues with the Formula 1 Gran Premio de la Ciudad de México 2024, scheduled from October 26 to 28.
