2024 United States Grand Prix: Leclerc paints COTA red with victory and Ferrari 1-2, as Verstappen vs. Norris battle heated up once again

Austin, TX – It was a day to remember not only for Charles Leclerc himself but also for the Scuderia Ferrari team as well. On Sunday, October 20, 2024 at the Circuit Of The Americas, Leclerc guided the Prancing Horse a victorious 1-2 with teammate Carlos Sainz Jr. gifted a runner-up finish. Leclerc also dedicated his victory and a Ferrari 1-2 to the late One Direction member Liam Payne who died of suicide in Buenos Aires, Argentina on October 16. Leclerc said that this victory is the most dedicated ones because Liam (Payne) once referenced a Ferrari to win (here in COTA) in his 2017 single "Strip That Down", so this is the important victory for Ferrari. This became Leclerc's 2nd victory of the 2024 season after his home race in Monaco last June.

Verstappen (Red Bull) and Norris (McLaren) collided each other while battling for the final podium spot during the main race of 2024 United States Grand Prix at Circuit Of The Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas on Sunday, October 20, 2024.

Reigning world champion and current championship leader Max Verstappen completed the podium in third place. The Red Bull Racing driver battled McLaren's Lando Norris who started the race from pole. Norris, who became Verstappen's main threat since the start of the 2nd half of 2024 season, battled the Dutchman for the final podium place throughout the race. The most dramatic moment of the race happened as the top-two in the current drivers' world championship standings almost collided each other on lap 52 at turn 12, resulting five-second time penalties to Norris for causing a collision or forcing Verstappen off the track, or gaining advantage from off the track. With five rounds remaining of the season, Verstappen must aware of Norris's threat for the 2024 title fight in order to defend for his fourth world title.

Sources:

• https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/leclerc-leads-dominant-ferrari-one-two-in-austin-as-norris-loses-third-to.3VSTWKOy40Ta1vvtlwHBff

• https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/leclerc-insists-ferrari-are-still-targeting-the-title-after-superb-austin.58idTgWUmsHPKhZqcKic9l

• https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/i-think-i-did-the-correct-thing-norris-stands-by-approach-to-verstappen.3PzDL2EMCd0Ypv1Bq3f1E8

• 2024 United States Grand Prix race results