Summary:
- Lando Norris has stood by his decision not to hand over his position back to Max Verstappen at the United States Grand Prix in Austin on Sunday.
- Norris received a penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage.
- Charles Leclerc won the Grand Prix in a Ferrari one-two finish with teammate Carlos Sainz; Verstappen finished third.
Lando Norris defended his decision not to give Max Verstappen the position back during their intense battle at the United States Grand Prix in Austin, despite receiving a penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage.
Charles Leclerc led a dominant Ferrari one-two finish, with teammate Carlos Sainz finishing in second place.
The three-times F1 World Drivers’ Championship title winner born in Belgium secured third, extending his championship lead over Lando Norris in the process.
This race showcased Ferrari’s impressive performance, reinforcing their competitive edge as they look to close the gap in the constructors’ standings. Can Ferrari take the constructors crown aware from Red Bull? Find betting opportunities with Non UK Gambling sites.
“I Think I Did the Correct Thing, But I Don’t Make the Rules.”
As the race unfolded, it appeared that Leclerc and Sainz were on track for a dominant one-two finish at the front.
However, behind them, a gripping battle for third place developed between Lando Norris and Max Verstappen as the race approached its climax
During the battle, Norris made a move at Turn 12, running off the track and re-entering ahead of Verstappen.
The stewards investigated the incident and issued Norris a five-second penalty. Although he crossed the finish line in third, the penalty dropped him to fourth, promoting Verstappen to the podium.
Reflecting on the incident, Norris stood by his actions:
I didn’t give the position back because we thought we were in the right – clearly we weren’t… I kept my position because [Max] needed to give it back.
Norris acknowledged that Verstappen drove well, adding that it was a fun battle, but disagreed with the penalty, saying, “I think I did the correct thing, but I don’t make the rules”.
“I Didn’t Drive Particularly Well”
Despite his defense of the strategy, Norris was critical of his overall performance at the Circuit of The Americas.
I didn’t drive particularly well,” he admitted. “It was a tough challenge… I didn’t do enough today.
The race proved challenging for Norris, with McLaren struggling for pace throughout the weekend, as highlighted by their difficulties in Friday’s practice and Saturday’s Sprint.
When asked if he could take any positives from the result, Norris said that realistically, third place was the best possible outcome for McLaren given Ferrari’s dominance.
The Ferraris were on another level… even if I led after Turn 1, I would have finished third at best.
While he acknowledged finishing just one spot behind where he expected, Norris emphasized the significance of losing that place to Verstappen.
“I’m not happy with today at all”, the 24-year-old concluded, stressing the need for improvement from both himself and the team.
McLaren will look to bounce back after a difficult weekend as they continue their pursuit of podium finishes in the remaining races.
With 5 races left can Norris make up enough points to deny Verstappen from his fourth title ? Get odds from the best offshore bookmakers for UK players.