To some surprise, Scuderia Ferrari dominated the US Grand Prix, while the previously favorites Lando Norris and Max Verstappen could only fight for third place.
Charles Leclerc brilliantly recognized the "back door" offered by Lando Norris and Max Verstappen at the start and immediately took the lead from fourth place. His compatriot Lewis Hamilton also made a great start and fought his way from the back row to 12th (!!) place in just a few corners, but as fast as he was, fate caught up with him just as quickly... The Briton slid into the gravel pit exactly where George Russell had in yesterday's qualifying, and thus said goodbye to further battles. The safety car came out, but even with the safety car leaving, the essential picture didn't change: Leclerc, Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz were still at the front. Behind them followed the two McLarens, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. After that, there was a spin from Guanyu Zhou and some battles at the back of the field, but unfortunately, it was already clear at that point that we would not be celebrating the 2024 US Grand Prix as the race of the decade.
After the pit stops, the front runners had shifted somewhat, with the two Scuderia Ferrari cars now dominating the race, while Verstappen struggled on hard tires. We saw a variety of strategies and tactics, but unfortunately, far fewer moments reminiscent of motor racing. We expected the fast-driving Norris to bring some fire to the Austin desert, as well as Liam Lawson, who finished superbly in his comeback race. The intensity of the race was well reflected in the fact that the broadcast showed nothing but Norris chasing Verstappen for ten long laps—for the simple reason that nothing else was happening.
In the end, Norris managed to change places, but illegally, so that Charles Leclerc, who won the US Grand Prix, and Carlos Sainz, who finished second, finally finished with Max Verstappen in third place.
