Sunday Debrief: Verstappen beats Hamilton to the line in a thrilling closing battle of the US GP

Verstappen continues his winning streak, with a victory in both Saturdays sprint and Sundays race, bringing his total number of race wins to 50. Meanwhile, Mercedes show sins of major improvement as Hamilton misses out on a win by only 1.5 seconds.

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Saturdays sprint:

Verstappen took victory at the first US sprint race. Hamilton finished in P2, narrowing the gap between himself and Perez in the drivers’ championship, in the fight to finish second.

Going into turn 1 on the opening lap, Hamilton went wide as he battled with Leclerc for P2, Hamilton going wide but managing to get ahead of Leclerc, as the pair went into Turn 2.

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George Russell in the other Mercedes was the first to receive a 5-seocnd time penalty in the sprint, Russell picking up the penalty after an incident involving Oscar Piastri at turn 15. Zhou was the other driver to pick up a penalty for track limits, Zhou crossing the line without conceding a place after finishing 6 seconds ahead his teammate behind.

2 laps to go and Stroll retired out of the race, Stroll continuing his streak of disappointing races in the second half of the season.

As they crossed the line, it was Verstappen who took victory, Leclerc following in P2 with Hamilton in P3.

Sunday’s race:

Leclerc started the race from P1 with Norris beside him on the front row. Saturdays sprint winner Max Verstappen started the race from P6 after having a lap time deleted in qualifying

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Norris with the better start got ahead of the Ferrari going into turn 1. Behind the front row Sainz squeezed his way past the Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton, as Hamilton conceded a spot to the Ferrari, Verstappen looking to make a move on the pair but staying behind as he tried to avoid contact with the Mercedes. By lap 4 Hamilton took the place back from Carlos Sainz, Hamilton showing good pace on his tyres as he gets past the other Ferrari a few laps later

An early retirement from the race for Esteban Ocon, as he comes in on Lap 8, Piastri becoming the second car to retire out of the race on Lap 11. Meanwhile, on lap 11 on track, Verstappen and Leclerc battled it out for the final podium place, Verstappen getting ahead as Leclerc goes wide.

Verstappen triggered the pit stops with the front runners by coming in on Lap 17. Norris and Sainz being the first to act by responding a lap later by coming into the pits, Hamilton gaining the lead of the race. Hamilton coming in on Lap 21, Hamilton unable to keep going on his medium tyres for the teams hope of 5 more laps. Hamilton pitting for a set of medium tyres, Russell coming in a lap later.

Leclerc came into the pits on Lap 24, Norris gaining back the lead shortly before Verstappen took back the lead. Norris pitting ahead of the Red Bull on Lap 35, Verstappen quick to cover off Norris by pitting a lap later on Lap 36 to stay ahead of the McLaren.

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Hamilton currently leading came into the pits on Lap 39, re-joining the track in P4. Elsewhere on the track, Verstappen made his way past Leclerc to take back the lead, followed by Lando who one. Anew set of hard tyres made his way past Leclerc at turn 2. Poor fate for Leclerc when 4 laps later he was caught and cleared by Lewis Hamilton as Hamilton takes the final podium position.

5 laps later Hamilton found himself at the back of the McLaren of Lando Norris, the pair battling it out throughout Lap 48, before Hamilton cleared the McLaren on Lap 49. With 7 laps to go and the McLaren out of his way Hamilton now sets his sights on Verstappen and a potential victory.

Aston Martins bad luck continues with Alonso becoming the second Aston Martin to retire out of the race with only 7 laps to go, complaints about floor damage to Alonso’s car.

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2 laps to go and Hamilton beginning to close the gap between himself and Verstappen, Verstappen losing pace in his Red Bull, aiding Hamilton in closing the gap. With one lap to go, the gap now only 1.5 seconds. Hamilton running out of track, just missing out on a first win since Jeddah in 2021. Mercedes getting closer and closer to a victory as Hamilton thanks the team over the radio for ‘never giving up on us’.

An unfortunate turn in events following the race, when both Hamilton and Leclerc were disqualified from the race for technical infringements. Following the race, both cars were inspected and both cars were found to not be in compliance with Article 3.5.9 e) of the 2023 Formula One Technical Regulations after failing the plank wear inspection. However, this wasn't bad news for everyone, as this left the gap open for Sergeant to move into the points, scoring his first point in Formula One.