Maxsports: F1 – US Grand Prix RECAP: Lap-by-lap updates as Max Verstappen extends lead over Lando Norris as Charles Leclerc wins

Well it wasn’t the race that we all expected but what a batlle it was! Ferrari will lead celebrations long into the Texas night while Red Bull and McLaren return to the drawing board knowing the championship fight is still very much alive!

You’d expect nothing less than Christian Horner to come out and staunchly defend Max Verstappen and he’s done exactly that by stressing Lando Norris deserved his time penalty.

Horner believes Norris broke the sport’s laws by overtaking off the track despite both drivers straying off the asphalt and is protesting Red Bull’s innocence in Texas.

Clarifying the situation on Sky Sports, Horner said: ‘They’ve gone off the cirucit and Lando passed off the circuit.

‘The rules are clear. He clearly goes off the circuit. Both did but you can’t overtake.

‘I can understand the frustration but the rules are the rules and drivers know that. Max was acutly aware as soon as Lando went off-track that was illegal.’

Well the Mercedes team chief is incredibly unhappy with the penalties that were handed out today and has brazenly suggested some stewards are being biased with their decision-making.

Mercedes driver George Russell was one of a handful of drivers hit with penalties in Texas before Norris was controversially penalised for his move on Verstappen.

‘Lando got a penalty and I guess it’s a bit of biased decision-making,’ Wolff initially told Russell on team radio at the end of the race.

He later told Sky Sports: ‘We have seen a few incidents that were exactly the same and weren’t penalised.

‘I think we know why we got penalty but can’t say why on television and also that penalty at the end.

‘Sometimes there are correlations. When decision-making it is a bit interesting. At the end of the day it is a difficult job, some stweards are very good and you need to salute these guys.’

Lando Norris has done well to keep his cool after the race but is slightly edgy as he gives his opinion on the stewards decision to hand him a five second penalty that ultimately cost him third.

The Brit belives no action should have been taken against him and suggests Verstappen should have been punished heading into the first corner of the race when he went off the track.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Norris said: ‘He [Verstappen] went off the track as well so perhaps he was going too hard. He has overtaken by going off the tack [at turn one] and has defended going off the track. Max drove well, defended well.

‘We probably ended up where we expected to be. I would have iked third and thought we deserved third. It was a tough weekend from the start.’

JONATHAN MCEVOY AT THE U.S. GRAND PRIX: What you can’t do is offer your title rival the freedom of Texas and expect to beat him to the most fiercely contested prize in motor racing.

That is what Lando Norris did in the US Grand Prix. Max Verstappen needs no second invitation. He is adept at threading his rampaging Red Bull through the eye of a needle with sledgehammer force, let alone blast down a hole he should never have been afforded.

READ THE FULL RACE STORY BELOW

Here’s the full confirmed race result with Ferrari the days victors, Verstappen holding out for third, while McLaren are forced to miss out on podium celebrations on a rare difficult day.

George Russell did brilliantly to finish in the points after starting from the pits while it was also a strong day for Haas and RB.

It’s easy to forget that Ferrari were the biggest winners of the day as Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz drove the perfect race to claim a one-two podium finish.

It’s not been the season that the Italian garage would have been hoping for but today is a show that they are making improvements.

Lewis Hamilton will perhaps be quietly appreciating Ferrari’s dominance in Texas from behind-the-scenes as he prepares to join the team next season.

You’d think Verstappen might look slightly happier with finishing on the podium but cuts a steely figure as he speaks with Jenson Button.

Verstappen was annoyed with Norris when the McLaren ace passed him and refuses to comment further on the situation after the action.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Verstappen said: ‘It was a tough battle, I tried everything I could to keep him behind.

‘I have my opinion and don’t need to say it here, we leave it to the stewards, for us it was a race we learned a lot and will just analyse that.’

Whatever the outcome, this was a sensational battle between the two title challengers that ended with Norris finally overtaking only for him to be hit with a five-second penalty for exceeding track limits.

What do you think of the move? Both drivers each believe they were in the right of course.

Red Bull are relieved as positions are reversed with Verstappen awarded third after Norris was given a five-second penalty following their battle.

It wasn’t as comfortable a day as Red Bull were originally expecting but it’s a step in the right direction as they finish ahead of McLaren for the first time in what feels like forever.

Verstappen keeps character by continuining to complain about Norris on the team radio as he crosses the line.

Norris is hit with a five second penalty on the final lap and can’t do enough to keep his position, finishing just four seconds ahead of Verstappen that hands the Red Bull third place!

You have to feel sorry for the British driver there as he is punished for the earlier overtake. Verstappen gains an advantage over Norris in the championship standings.

We’ve barely mentioned Chalres Leclerc but we will now as a rather uneventufl day sees him claim a dominant victory in Texas.

Leclerc took the lead at the first corner by taking advantage of Norris and Verstappen scrapping and never looked back from that moment on.

Ferrari lock out the top of the podium with team-mate Carlos Sainz finishing second. Great day for the Italian garage!

As you’d expect the FIA are now investigating whether Norris gained an advantage by going off the track.

He now needs to try and rack up a five-second advantage with a potential penalty incoming.

WOW! Finally Norris makes a clean move as he comes up inside Verstappen before being pushed wide into the apex and overtaking off the track.

Verstappen complains Norris got an advantage going off the track and wants the position back but it was the Red Bull’s move who put him there in the first place. This will be reviewed.

Norris is putting Verstappen under all sorts of pressure as he drains his battery to gain an advantage but is just a bit too far back every time an opening arises.

It’s not comfortable for Verstappen who is making mistakes but remains ahead. This could go all the way down to the final lap!

Meanwhile, Chalres Leclerc still leads with Sainz second.

Wow, wow, wow what racing we are being treated to as Norris and Verstappen go alongside each other through turns 13 – 15.

Norris has the extra pace using DRS but fair play to Verstappen because his defence has been excellent and admittedly fair.

Norris is edging closer and closer to Verstappen who locks up coming out of one bend and you could throw a blanket over this pair.

It’s all-out-defence against all-out-attack and we wait to see who will yield! Fantastic racing!

What a day it’s been for Russell who started the day in the pits and is now up to seventh after passing Hulkenberg. He could still finsh higher than that with Perez in view.

Norris gets DRS and gains massive space on Verstappen who is having to use his battery capacity to defend as the McLaren star puts him under serious pressure.

He should be set to make a move on the next lap.

Here we go then, forget the rest of the action for now because just over ONE second separates the championship-competing pair and Norris is edging closer to pouncing as he closes in on the Red Bull.

Verstappen isn’t going to give this up easily and with just 13 laps left there is still everything to race for.

Ferrari are going to win this race comfortably bar a disaster, but what looked to be a comfortable third place for Verstappen is now at risk as Norris moves into view with just 2.3 seconds separating the pair.

Christian Horner will be nervous on the Red Bull pit wall and you sense Norris has the pace to catch Verstappen in what could be a massive moment in the race to the title.

Verstappen is concerned by Norris’s advances and spits down the team radio telling Red Bull he can’t do anything with the hard tyres he is on.

The reigning world champion fumes he can’t break or turn and that is music to McLaren’s ears.

Norris emerged from his late pit stop on hard tyres and is now just four seconds behind Verstappen. The McLaren has fresher tyres and the race for third place is well and truly ON!

Leclerc is back to the front with just over 20 laps remaining and is being supported by his team-mate as Ferrari close in on a remarkable one-two podium finish.

Verstappen is third but Norris is looking to cut down his six-second lead.

The Alpine driver has been pushing track limits all day and has now been hit with a five-second penalty for exceeding track limits. He gets past Tsunoda but is hit with a five second penalty for his troubles.

The world of F1 is packed with tactical secrets and one of Ferrari’s seems so well protected that not even Carlos Sainz has an idea what his team is on about.

‘Get off phase one brake release’ comes the order from Ferrari.

Sainz hilariously replies: ‘I have no idea what that is’.

It was a quick stop from Leclerc who is also moved onto hard compounds and comes out in third place behind both McLaren’s.

Norris leads the race for the first time since the start but that won’t last long with neither McLaren driver yet to pit.

Red Bull make their move and pit Verstappen. There is no sign of the earlier issue they were reporting as the championship leader moves onto hard tyres but can’t get out quick enough and Sainz flies past him as he nurses his way out the pits.

We’ve barely spoke about Leclerc because he hasn’t been troubled out front ever since taking the lead at the first bend, but the Ferrari star is wary of being put under pressure despite holding a 10 second lead and tells the team he wants to pit soon.

Expect him to come in within the next couple of laps.

McLaren advise Norris they want to leave him out a bit longer before calling him into the pits and the championship hopeful advises that he is happy with his pace as he looks to chase Verstappen down.

Ferrari make their move as Sainz is brought into the pits and moves onto hard tyres that should see him through the remainder of the race.

Sainz comes back out in fifth place and now Red Bull wait to pull the trigger on Verstappen pitting.

It’s been a difficult day for McLaren so far after Norris lost pole on the first bend and has remained fourth ever since.

However, the garage has just been given a boost as both Norris and Piastri begin to close the gap on Sainz ahead with their tyres through the graining phase and starting to work nicely.

Leclerc is loving life out front as he builds his lead over Verstappen to almost eight seconds! Ferrari were confident coming into today but even they couldn’t have expected this.

The question now is when they decide to pit as Leclerc advises over the team radio that he wants to go with plan b or c.

Wow we said a moment agao that Russell had produced a stunning overtake on Bottas – and it was – but the Mercedes star has now been hit with a five second penalty for the move.

Russell got ahead of Bottas but is deemed to have forced his counterpart off the track. Not sure on that one and neither is Toto Wolff who calls the penalty a ‘joke’ on the team radio.

Verstappen is now over SIX seconds behind Leclerc and to make things worse for the championship leader is the fact that Red Bull have just been on the radio to advise his car has an issue.

The Dutchman doesn’t respond as he continues to push but Ferrari will be loving this as a longer-than-usual pit stop looms for Red Bull.

George Russell started the day in the pits and is now up into 14th as he passes Bottas brilliantly and is now continuing to chase those ahead of him.

What a day it would be for him and the Mercedes team if Russell can force his way into the top 10.

Well it’s been a crazy start in Texas and we’ve barely had a chance to catch our breath so it’s about time we run you through who is where amongst the top 10 in this enthralling battle.

It’s been a dream start for Ferrarri as they target a one-two finish, but McLaren aren’t enjoying themselves on a track that has previously troubled them.

2. Verstappen (Red Bull) +5.294

Sainz remains third ahead of Norris but has just got ont he team radio and is complaining of being able to smell fuel in his cockpit.

Ferrari are investigating the issue but advise there is nothing they can do at the minute while a concerned Sainz sees his lap time begin to drop.

There is clearly an issue that Ferrari need to sort!

Leclerc continues to extend his lead while Verstappen also gives himself a second of breathing room to Sainz in thrid.

Norris and Piastri sit behind in fourth and fifth but don’t look to have the pace that will allow them to challenge for the podium as things stands.

Leclerc evades Verstappen’s chase to set a new fastest lap of the day and is now out of DRS distance.

Further back we see Hulkenberg make a brilliant move on Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso to jump into the points.

The lights go green and Verstappen telegraphs when Leclerc is going to put his foot down perfectly before hugging the rear of his Ferrarri through a series of tricky bends.

No DRS for one lap after the safety car and Verstappen is posied to strike!

Norris is unhappy as he sits behind the safety car and fumes on the team radio that Verstappen was only able to get past him by forcing him wide that required the McLaren star to adjust as Ferrari came through.

McLaren aren’t happy with that and want Verstappen punished but that looks like a pure racing incident so it would be a surprise if any action was to be taken.

Here comes the safety car as track staff work to remove Hamilton’s vehicle and all the drivers will be bunched up once again.

Spare a thought for Sainz who was just about to make a move on Verstappen when the safety car was deployed.

After a sensational opening lap saw Hamilton move from 17th up to 12th, the Mercedes driver is now furious after beaching his car on the gravel and ending his race.

What a shame that is for the seven-time world champion who just seemed to lose concentration at the worst point possible. Safety car to come out.

We have DRS enabled and Sainz momentarily gets past Verstappen only for the Red Bull ace to force his way back in front.

Brilliant defending from Verstappen right on the line with Norris nowhere to be seen!

Oh no what a nightmare this is for Norris as he gets his tactics correct but executes them awfully as he leaves a huge gap while fighting Verstappen and through comes Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz. Head in your hands moment for McLaren!

It’s lights out in Texas as Norris gets away from pole well and fights ferociously with Verstappen down to the first corner and looks like he is keeping the lead but here comes FERRARI!

Norris leads the grid off on a formation lap with the top dozen drivers all on medium tyres.

Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton – starting in 17th place – has opted for the harder tyres as Mercedes look to run deeper into the race without pitting.

The track has been cleared of celebrities, bystanders, team staff and everything else in between, and finally we are almost ready to get underway.

The Texas weather is bringing searing temperatures with a track temperature of 47 degrees so expect most drivers to start on medium tyres.

Norris will lead the grid off on a formation lap and you wonder what pace he will go at knowing it could be a long wait at the start of the grid.

Verstappen won the sprint race yesterday as his Red Bull car finally once again showed dominant race pace and the championship leader believes he can put the pressure on Norris from the off.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Verstappen said: ‘The car seemed a lot better in the sprint yesterday and now I hope it is sustained today. Normally if you/re quick in the sprint and don’t make changes to your car it shoud replicate into the main race.

‘We have to be wary but I am hopeful we can have a good race. A win would make our lives a bit easier and hopefully from now onwards we can be more competitive.’

We are almost ready for the pre-race fanfare to finish as the American national anthem gets underway at the Circuit of the Americas.

A choir standing on a podium way up in the skyline belt out the iconic anthem as thousands watch on and in just a few moments time we’ll be ready to go with the formation lap.

Mercedes aren’t expected to challenge for the podium today in Texas but their efforts have been made even more difficult as George Russell starts from the pits following a crash.

Norris is still adusting to his newfound role of paddock favourite and comes into tonight’s huge race knowing that both Ferrarri and Red Bull are likely to put them under greater pressure than before.

The championship hopeful finished third in Saturday’s sprint event and revealed how he must drive with more respect for his tyres today as the team weigh up their pit strategy.

Today’s front grid is really where the whole attention of the championship title race is with Lando Norris the driver in form after winning in Singapore last time out and now less than 100 points behind the reigning world champion.

Verstappen hasn’t won since the Spanish GP in June but has had improvements made to his car over the past few weeks and you expect him to challenge Norris going into the first corner.

Hello, good evening, we hope you’re weekend has been packed full of sport and tonight you join us in Texas for the United States GP where Lando Norris starts on pole as favourite.

It’s been almost a month since the Singapore GP and with plenty of changes made during the mid-season break this is a race that will have a huge bearing on the final season standings.

Lights out are at 8pm and we have plenty to get through before then!