Formula 1 United States GP

Ferrari "in the fight" for F1 constructors' title after US GP 1-2

The gap to McLaren and Red Bull was drastically cut with its stellar performance in Austin

Jake Boxall-Legge

Jake Boxall-Legge

Edited: Oct 21, 2024, 8:05 AM

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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

Charles Leclerc, Scuderia Ferrari, 1st position, celebrates on arrival in Parc Ferme

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren F1 Team, Lando Norris, McLaren F1 Team, wave to the crowd on the drivers' parade

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

A Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader on the grid for the drivers parade

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

Gene Haas, Owner and Founder, Haas F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

Mattia Binotto, CEO and CTO, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber and Andrea Stella, Team Principal, McLaren F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team, arrives at the track

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

George Russell, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

Franco Colapinto, Williams Racing on the drivers parade

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

Nico Hulkenberg, Haas F1 Team, Kevin Magnussen, Haas F1 Team, ahead of the drivers parade

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

Valtteri Bottas, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber, Zhou Guanyu, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber, wave at the crowds

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team, embraces a trackside volunteer ahead of the drivers parade

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

Charles Leclerc, Scuderia Ferrari and Carlos Sainz, Scuderia Ferrari on the drivers parade

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin F1 Team, Lance Stroll, Aston Martin F1 Team,

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin AMR24, climbs into his car

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

Nara Smith and Lucky Blue Smith for Aston Martin Pirelli hot laps

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

Valtteri Bottas, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber, Mattia Binotto, CEO and CTO, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber, talk in the Paddock

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team and George Russell, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team on the drivers parade

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

Nico Hulkenberg, Haas F1 Team and Kevin Magnussen, Haas F1 Team on the drivers parade

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

Joe Rogan in McLaren garage

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

Jenson Button, Sky F1 and Nico Hulkenberg, Haas F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders visit the Haas F1 Team garage

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

Chef Gordon Ramsay ahead of an Aston Martin Pirelli Hot Laps experience

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

Golfer Ian Poulter poses in front of the car of Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, on the grid

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

Zhou Guanyu, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber, on the grid with an engineer

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

Lando Norris, McLaren F1 Team, on the grid with his engineer

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

Valtteri Bottas, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber, removes his helmet

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin F1 Team, on the grid

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team,

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

Mechanics push Valtteri Bottas, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber C44, to his grid slot

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

Mechanics push Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, to his grid slot

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

Mattia Binotto, CEO and CTO, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber, on the grid

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

Liam Lawson, Visa Cash App RB F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin F1 Team, on the grid

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24, Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24, Oscar Piastri, McLaren MCL38, Pierre Gasly, Alpine A524, Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin AMR24, the rest of the field a

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24, Pierre Gasly, Alpine A524, Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin AMR24, Oscar Piastri, McLaren MCL38, the remainder of the field at the start

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20, Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24, Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, Pierre Gasly, Alpine A524, Oscar Piastri, McLaren MCL38, the rest of the field on the opening lap

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin AMR24, runs wide as Esteban Ocon, Alpine A524, spins and Franco Colapinto, Williams FW46, Liam Lawson, RB F1 Team VCARB 01 pass

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20, Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, battle into turn 1

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20, as Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, runs off the circuit

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

Esteban Ocon, Alpine A524, spins as Zhou Guanyu, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber C44, runs wide

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

Esteban Ocon, Alpine A524, spins as Zhou Guanyu, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber C44, avoids him

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin AMR24, Alex Albon, Williams FW46

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes F1 W15, retires from the race in the gravel after a spin

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team, is given a ride back to the pits after spinning out and retiring from the race

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

The safety car Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20, Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24, the rest of the field

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20, Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24, Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, Oscar Piastri, McLaren MCL38, Pierre Gasly, Alpine A524, the rest of the field on the opening lap

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

Nico Hulkenberg, Haas VF-24, battles with Esteban Ocon, Alpine A524

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren MCL38, Pierre Gasly, Alpine A524, Liam Lawson, RB F1 Team VCARB 01

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

Alex Albon, Williams FW46, makes a pit stop

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24, Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing RB20 after making a pit stop

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, leaves his pit box after a stop

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

George Russell, Mercedes F1 W15, makes a pit stop

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24, leaves the pits after a stop

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing RB20, George Russell, Mercedes F1 W15

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20, Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20, Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24, Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, the rest of the field

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren MCL38, Pierre Gasly, Alpine A524

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, battles with Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20, Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, battle into turn 1

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20, battles with Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20, Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, battle into turn 1

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, battles with Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, battles with Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

George Russell, Mercedes F1 W15

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

Charles Leclerc, Scuderia Ferrari, 1st position, celebrates in Parc Ferme

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

Charles Leclerc, Scuderia Ferrari, 1st position, celebrates with his teammates in Parc Ferme

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

Charles Leclerc, Scuderia Ferrari, 1st position, celebrates with his team in Parc Ferme

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

Charles Leclerc, Scuderia Ferrari, 1st position, celebrates with his teammates in Parc Ferme

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

Carlos Sainz, Scuderia Ferrari, 2nd position, celebrates with his teammates in Parc Ferme

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

Charles Leclerc, Scuderia Ferrari, 1st position, Carlos Sainz, Scuderia Ferrari, 2nd position, congratulate each other in Parc Ferme

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

Charles Leclerc, Scuderia Ferrari, 1st position, lifts the trophy in celebration

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

Carlos Sainz, Scuderia Ferrari, 2nd position, Charles Leclerc, Scuderia Ferrari, 1st position, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, 3rd position, on the podium

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, 3rd position, lifts his trophy

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

Carlos Sainz, Scuderia Ferrari, 2nd position, lifts his trophy

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

Charles Leclerc, Scuderia Ferrari, 1st position, Carlos Sainz, Scuderia Ferrari, 2nd position, celebrate on the podium with Champagne

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, 3rd position, sprays Champagne on the podium

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

Charles Leclerc, Scuderia Ferrari, 1st position, on the podium

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, 3rd position, Carlos Sainz, Scuderia Ferrari, 2nd position, cheer with their champagne bottles on the podium

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

Charles Leclerc, Scuderia Ferrari, 1st position, Carlos Sainz, Scuderia Ferrari, 2nd position, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, 3rd position, on the podium

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

Charles Leclerc, Scuderia Ferrari, 1st position, celebrates on the podium with Champagne

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

The Champagne and trophy for Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, 3rd position, on the podium

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

Charles Leclerc, Scuderia Ferrari, 1st position, Carlos Sainz, Scuderia Ferrari, 2nd position, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, 3rd position, in the the post race press conference

2024 United States Grand Prix - Sunday

91

Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz believe that Ferrari's 1-2 result at the United States Grand Prix puts it firmly in the hunt for Formula 1's constructors' championship, as it now sits 48 points behind leader McLaren.

Ferrari took a 26-point chunk out of Red Bull in the constructors' standings to sit just eight points behind the reigning champion outfit after the Austin race and 48 points adrift of McLaren, as Leclerc and Sainz took control at the front.

Leclerc had gathered the lead through an opportunistic switchback into Turn 1, where he moved ahead of the pack as Max Verstappen and Lando Norris battled off the front row.

The drivers had tentatively stated before the race that Ferrari's performance at the Circuit of the Americas was going to be the litmus test of its progression through the year; despite Leclerc pointing to 'limitations' with the bumpiness of the opening sector in qualifying, the team's race performance was a clear step up.

Leclerc said that the Scuderia was now firmly targeting the constructors' title, and feels that it is in good shape both technically and operationally to do so.

"It hasn't been an easy weekend until now, I struggled a little bit with the feeling in the car, but I had the confidence that in race the feeling was better, and it was the case," Leclerc reflected.

"We thought that the others would improve a lot more, but we still had the upper hand. I'm really happy with today's 1-2 - we couldn't have dreamed of better.

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24

Photo by: Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Images

"It was a pretty good Turn 1, that's exactly what I wanted to do, we had a really good launch. In the second stint, it was all about managing behind, but we did a great job, the pace of the car was really good and that's mostly thanks to the engineers.

"They have been working like crazy over the last few months to bring the upgrades that we had in Singapore and the last few races, and it seems to be paying off.

"The whole team is working super well, the pitstops were really good, everything worked out well so I'm really happy. Now we are still targeting the title. It's a long way to go but a good start to this triple-header."

Sainz echoed Leclerc's ambition, explaining that the SF-24 has proven to be strong in races where degradation is a key factor and this has allowed it to be more aggressive.

He reckoned that he "got the worst" of the Verstappen and Norris battle in front, which cost him the chance to move higher than third, but ultimately undercut the Red Bull in the pitstops to clinch second.

"It's a result that puts us where we want to [be] in the fight for the constructors' now, so extremely happy for everyone in Ferrari right now," Sainz remarked.

"At the same time, I knew a lot of the race was going to be decided at the start. I knew Lando and Max were going to go hard in T1 and unfortunately, I got the worst of it and didn't get that lead.

"[Tyre management is] definitely the strength of the car this year, how long we can go on stints and how little deg we have. It's something I enjoy and something that has made me enjoy racing a lot more than last year.

"We spent all of the races defending and losing places; this year it seems like we can go in attack mode and just push and overtake, and it's fun. I hope it stays like this."

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