After a three-week break, the Austin Grand Prix provided fans with a rather eventful race, stunting Lando Norris’ progress in the fight for the World Drivers’ Championship.
After success in Singapore, Norris’ curse appears to have resurfaced, as Austin witnessed yet another disappointing start from pole position. Despite a quick reaction time, Norris left championship rival Max Verstappen too much space at Turn 1, allowing the Red Bull car to dive down the inside line and overtake with ease.
Unfortunately for both, Charles Leclerc was able to take advantage of the scrap, propelling himself into the lead. After a remarkable race from both him and teammate Carlos Sainz, Ferrari secured a one-two finish. Having acquired 43 points, Ferrari are truly in the running for second place in the Constructors’ Championship, now only eight points behind Red Bull. A fall to third place would be catastrophic for Red Bull considering their total domination last year, but likely, given Sergio Perez’s dwindling contribution to the team.
The championship contenders battled it out once again in the closing laps of the race. Norris was able to overtake Verstappen in Lap 52, notably after numerous failed attempts. This was futile, however, as Norris later received a penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage, allowing Verstappen to cling onto P3. This has sparked controversy and revived accusations of FIA bias, as it is clear Verstappen had forced Norris off the track in a desperate attempt to win back his position.
Overall, Austin was disastrous for Norris’ championship fight, marking the first time since Belgium that Verstappen has extended his lead in the points. However, Norris’ failure to hold onto P1 and struggle to overtake Verstappen, despite having fresher tyres and the fastest car on the grid, suggests that he is not fit to become World Champion just yet. On the other hand, Verstappen’s remarkable defence proved he is worthy of taking the title once more – and that’s coming from a Lewis Hamilton fan.
For Mercedes, Sunday’s race was certainly a mixed bag, albeit a more disappointing one. Lewis Hamilton failed to make it out of Q1 in Saturday’s qualifying, starting the race in P17. Despite initial success, making it to P12 in the opening laps, he beached his car in the gravel leading to an early DNF. On the contrary, George Russell had a rather impressive race, finishing in P6 after a pit lane start. However, this is still not enough to propel Mercedes back on to the podium.
The rookies of the season, Liam Lawson and Franco Colapinto, certainly deserve praise for their performances, both finishing in the points. Both have proved they deserve a spot on the 2025 grid, but with few seats left, this remains to be seen.
Photo Credits: “#16 Charles Leclerc” by taka_suzuki is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.