Ferrari shines with Leclerc and Sainz in Austin double podium

Carlos Sainz, who started third, was able to stay close to the leading trio, and the Spaniard benefited from a well-timed undercut strategy during his pit stop to leap ahead of Verstappen. With fresher tires, Sainz cemented his second-place position, crossing the line 8.5 seconds behind Leclerc, securing Ferrari’s first one-two finish of the season. 

This result marked a significant turnaround for Ferrari, who have struggled with consistency throughout the year but demonstrated their potential with a dominant performance in Austin.

While Ferrari enjoyed a successful day, the battle for the final podium position was anything but straightforward. In the closing laps, Lando Norris and Max Verstappen engaged in a fierce duel for third place. 

Norris, determined to recover from losing the lead early in the race, made an aggressive move to pass Verstappen. However, Red Bull quickly protested, arguing that Norris had completed the overtake outside the track limits. The stewards agreed, handing Norris a five-second time penalty for gaining an advantage by leaving the track. The penalty dropped Norris to fourth place, allowing Verstappen to claim the final spot on the podium.