F1 news LIVE: Race reaction as Lando Norris responds angrily after penalty at US Grand Prix
F1 reaction after Norris was penalised for an overtake on Max Verstappen at the end of the race in Austin
Lando Norris’ F1 championship hopes were dealt a hammer blow after he was handed a controversial five-second penalty to finish behind rival Max Verstappen following a compelling US Grand Prix.
As Charles Leclerc raced to an impressive win at Austin’s Circuit of the Americas, pole man Norris was only fourth – one place behind Verstappen – to leave him 57 points adrift in the title race with only 146 points to play for across the concluding five rounds. Carlos Sainz took second to complete a Ferrari one-two.
Norris spent the final dozen laps crawling all over Verstappen’s gearbox in a thrilling conclusion, and he eventually made the move stick on the 52nd lap.
However, the stewards quickly launched an investigation into the pass, and Norris was adjudged to have run off the track. Norris was penalised, and although he crossed the line in third, four seconds ahead of Verstappen, his sanction dropped him back, in what could prove a pivotal decision in his championship quest.
Follow live reaction from the United States Grand Prix with The Independent
F1 US Grand Prix: Charles Leclerc is safe!
Leclerc puts in a clean lap and is up to third, as Verstappen goes fastest.
Final laps coming in now...
F1 US Grand Prix: Lando Norris fastest but on new tyres
Norris goes to the top with a 1:32:851, two-tenths quicker than his title rival in second but Verstappen was on used tyres.
Doesn’t bode great.
Meanwhile, down in P14 is Charles Leclerc!
Current bottom-five (11-15): Ocon, Alonso, Stroll, Leclerc, Lawson
5:00 to go in Q2...
F1 US Grand Prix: Max Verstappen quickest early on
Verstappen goes quickest, with Gasly second and Sainz third.
And Lawson isn’t going to set a time, incidentally.
Current bottom-five (11-15): Ocon, Alonso, Stroll, Leclerc, Lawson
8:00 to go...
F1 US Grand Prix: Q2 underway!
Well, after the shock of Q1, what will Q2 bring?!
Liam Lawson, incidentally, may well not take part in this given his engine penalty - and he’ll start at the back of the grid.
F1 US Grand Prix: Lewis Hamilton out in Q1!
What a nightmare for Lewis Hamilton - he has not made it through! What a shock!
The seven-time world champion only P19, by 0.121 seconds to Lance Stroll, yet his team-mate George Russell went P3!
A mistake at turn 12, I believe, for Lewis. Oh jeez...
Bottom-five and out in Q1 (16-20): Albon, Colapinto, Bottas, Hamilton, Zhou
F1 US Grand Prix: Charles Leclerc quickest with 5 to go!
Leclerc now top with a 1:33:241... but it’s the bottom where it’s interesting.
Current bottom-five (16-20): Bottas, Russell, Hamilton, Zhou, Tsunoda
Russell and Hamilton, a reminder, yet to set a lap on fresh soft tyres. They’ll only have one chance each here...
3:00 to go in Q1.
F1 US Grand Prix: Mercedes slow early on!
Both Russell and Hamilton are nowhere on the leaderboard (well, towards the bottom!) but they’re both on used soft tyres - so they should speed up later in the session.
Pierre Gasly now quickest, with Max Verstappen second and Nico Hulkenberg third.
8:00 to go. A few cars still yet to set a lap in Q1.
F1 US Grand Prix: Lando Norris quickest early on
Norris sets an early quick time with a 1:34:029 - but still around half the field to set their first laps!
It’s busy on track now though, as they all ready themselves for their hot laps.
12:00 to go in Q1...
F1 US Grand Prix: Q1 underway!
Here we go then with the first stage of qualifying!
18 minutes and we’ll lose the slowest five drivers from the rest of qualifying...
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