Pole: Charles Leclerc
Winner: Max Verstappen
Fastest Lap: Yuki Tsunoda 1:38.139
Two teams started from the pit lane after the additions to their car.
1-10
Norris has a great start off the line and takes the lead at turn 1 from Leclerc. Lots of drivers going off the track on lap 1 but everyone seems okay apart from Piastri and Ocon who have made small contact. In lap 3, Russell gets past Ocon and Perez also goes for a move on Gasly. In lap 4 at turn 12 Hamilton makes a clean move past Sainz for P3. Hamilton is now very close to Leclerc for P2 as Verstappen is now 1 second behind. In lap 7, Ocon retires the car after a collision with Piastri on the opening lap. In lap 9, Perez reports that Russell is going over track limits but has not been officially reported yet as Alonso gets his first warning.
10-20
Zhou pits on lap 10 for new tyres who started on the medium and went to the hard tyre. Piastri has to retire the car after a problem with overheating in the McLaren and is going very slowly out on track. Albon, Bottas and Magnussen all pit for new hard compound tyres. In lap 11, Verstappen pushes past Leclerc as the Ferrari goes off the track but still stays ahead of Verstappen but the Red Bull gets past by the final corner. In lap 13, Hamilton has been closing the gap to Norris and sets the fastest lap of the race. Sargeant goes for a move on the first corner but Magnussen can keep the place. Lap 14, Sargeant does get past Magnussen and is starting the push towards Bottas running in P16. In lap 16, Hamilton has closed the gap to 1.9 as Norris reports struggling with the balance at turns 8 and 9. Lap 17, Verstappen has pitted for medium tyres and is hoping for the undercut. Norris, Sainz, Perez and Tsunoda all come into the pits for new tyres. Hamilton has stayed out and is trying to make the tyres last.
20-30
Alonso and Hulkenberg pit on lap 20. Russell has a pit for new hard tyres and comes out P8. Lots of talk of tyres as there is a little unknown about the hard tyres at this track as it has been a sprint weekend. Verstappen is closing the gap to Norris for the lead as the gap is down to 1 second, Hamilton follows behind 7 seconds in the gap. In lap 28, Verstappen takes the lead of the Grand Prix from Norris as McLaren tries to fight back but is unable to keep the place.
30-40
Norris is still close behind Verstappen and can keep within the DRS range on the hard tyres. Lap 34, Verstappen is complaining about his brakes. Lap 35, Norris pits for hard tyres and comes out P6. Verstappen pits the following lap as does Sainz and the gap has closed to Verstappen. Hamilton has been asked to save fuel to push to the need as Perez and Gasly pit for fresh tyres. In lap 38, Hamilton pits for mediums as Sainz overtakes Russell and Verstappen gets past Leclerc and starts to build a gap. Norris gets past Leclerc and is only a 1.2-second gap between 2nd and 1st.
40-56
Lap 40, Russell pits for medium tyres and comes out P9. Albon is having a close battle with Ricciardo and manages to get past down the hill after turn 1. Lap 42, Sargeant has been shown the black and white flag for track limits. In lap 43, Hamilton is running within the DRS range of Leclerc and is aiming to get past as soon as possible as Alonso pits for new tyres. Another wonderful move from Hamilton as he gets past a Leclerc and has already pulled a gap of 1.8 and is 3 seconds behind Norris. Fernando Alonso is running a solid race in P9 after starting from the pit lane and is now closing the gap to Gasly. Hulkenberg takes 13th from Ricciardo and starts the charge to Albon running in P12. In lap 46, Sargeant at one of his home races has made a move on the inside of Ricciardo and takes P14. Hamilton, the fastest driver on track, has closed the gap to just over 1 second as Norris is being asked to charge his battery. Norris makes a late move on the main straight to try and defend but Hamilton eventually gets past into P2 and starts the charge to Verstappen who is 5 seconds ahead. Alonso has reported a rear suspension failure and has been overtaken by 2 cars. Alonso has to retire the car the following lap as Ricciardo pits for soft tyres and sets the fastest lap. Albon has been given a 5-second penalty for track limits as Sainz sets his sights on Norris for P3. Max Verstappen sounds incredibly stressed as his race engineer tries to give updates on Hamilton with the gap under 3 seconds. Max Verstappen looking like he is going to win the USA Grand Prix but not comfortably as Hamilton is continuing to close the gap, questions to be asked of Mercedes to see if they could’ve pitted Hamilton a bit earlier. Hamilton finishes a stellar race followed by Norris in P3.
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