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A controversial five-second penalty cost McLaren's Lando Norris a podium finish at the United States Grand Prix, hindering his pursuit of Max Verstappen in the drivers' championship. The race, held in Austin, saw Ferrari's Charles Leclerc claim victory, with Norris finishing fourth after initially overtaking Verstappen late in the race.
Norris, who had overtaken Verstappen on lap 52, was penalized for leaving the track and gaining an advantage. This demotion allowed Verstappen to reclaim third place, while Norris settled for fourth. Frustrated with the result, Norris candidly admitted fault: "If I defended better in turn one and wasn't driving like a muppet, I should have led after turn one," he told reporters.
Norris had been in strong form, finishing ahead of Verstappen in the last four races and winning two, including the Singapore Grand Prix. However, the penalty in Austin leaves him needing to outscore Verstappen by over 11 points per race in the remaining five events to win the championship.
Meanwhile, Ferrari dominated the race with a one-two finish, as Leclerc crossed the finish line ahead of teammate Carlos Sainz. Leclerc expressed his happiness with the result, saying, "It hasn't been an easy weekend, but I had confidence the car would feel better in the race, and it did."
Ferrari's victory also brought the team within 48 points of McLaren in the constructors' championship standings, setting up a tense final stretch for both teams.
