United States Grand Prix Verstappen took third place in the United States

Grand Prix Max Verstappen managed to extend his lead at the top of the Drivers’ Championship. The three-time champion crossed the finish line in fourth, but inherited third place after a 5-s penalty applied to McLaren driver Lando Norris.

Norris started from pole, but was overtaken at the start by Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc, who led the race from start to finish and took the top step of the podium, with his teammate Carlos Sainz at his side, with a Ferrari one-two. Lando Norris remained in fourth for most of the race. However, in the final laps, with newer hard tires, he began to “chase” the three-time champion for the podium, third place.

Max Verstappen, even with the less competitive car, held off the pressure from Norris and, with approximately four laps to go in the race, in a tight battle, the McLaren driver overtook on the outside, but did not give the position back to Verstappen. The stewards understood that the British driver had the advantage in the move and, as a result, applied a 5-second penalty. In an interview in the paddock after the GP, the three-time champion answered reporters about his performance in the race.

“For me it was a very difficult race, I never had the pace to attack. It was a little different compared to yesterday, I was understeering a lot, I was also braking badly, so it was very difficult to defend the position. Whenever someone came to pass me I tried to brake as late as possible and it was a very difficult battle [with Norris]. I did everything I could to leave him behind. So being on the podium is very good”, highlighted the Dutchman.