Norris upstages Leclerc in Qatar thriller
Two weeks earlier, Max Verstappen clinched a third straight world title in Qatar. Yet a sense of urgency lingered. He marked his 50th Formula 1 victory in Austin and chased the benchmark of 15 wins in a single season set in 2022. In practice, he looked vulnerable, dropping to sixth after track limits dashed his early momentum. But come race day, the Dutch star delivered a clinical comeback that underscored his relentless drive.
On the podium alongside Verstappen were Hamilton and Norris. Carlos Sainz finished fifth, while Fernando Alonso retired with six laps remaining due to rear suspension issues.
Norris shocks Leclerc
Strategy unfolded without surprises. Most drivers started on medium tires, with Stroll and Hulkenberg choosing the hard compound. Leclerc failed to retain pole position against Norris, who took the lead in a decisive move. Sainz climbed to third, nearly colliding with his teammate in a tense opening round. Verstappen began aggressively, slipping to fifth behind Hamilton.
Alonso and Stroll paused their races after a disruptive setup problem for Aston Martin on Friday. Fernando returned to Qatar’s favored configuration, while Stroll tested a new aero package debuted in Austin. The Canadian rookie made a misstep by entering the grid from the wrong point after the formation lap, drawing a penalty and a setback for his race.
Hamilton at maximum pace
Hamilton powered around the circuit in a striking Mercedes performance. The seven-time champion swept past Sainz and Verstappen, lifting himself to fifth as Leclerc became his next target. With pace and precision, Lewis closed in on Norris in under ten laps as the field settled into a grueling rhythm.
McLaren encountered trouble as Lando Norris defended bravely, allowing Oscar Piastri to retire after a car fault. Verstappen pressed on, closing in on the virtual podium while Hamilton kept the pressure high and Norris showed signs of strain as the gap shrank to under two seconds for the first time.
Championship edition
Verstappen cached his undercut strategy and was the first to stop. Perez, Norris, and the Ferraris followed suit, with Hamilton briefly leading the race as Mercedes weighed a one-stop approach. The plan proved optimistic. A late stop with 35 laps remaining forced Hamilton back onto the track on hard tires. Verstappen surged to second place, with Norris still in his sights.
Verstappen closed the distance to the McLaren through patient, relentless laps and seized the advantage once DRS was available. Lando Norris fought a hard defense on lap 28 to hold his position as the pit cycle continued. The race saw both drivers make a second pit stop while Hamilton regained leadership after his own stop and waited for fresh opportunities to strike.
With 17 laps to go, Verstappen grabbed the lead again. Hamilton chased him hard, eventually crossing the line in second as Norris finished third in Austin. Sainz finished fourth and Alonso, who pressed to reach the points, ended up ninth after a late-race penalty shuffled the field. The checkered flag carried Verstappen to a dramatic triumph, extending his dominance and leaving fans to parse the margins of a season that refused to yield.