F1 US GP Live Commentary and Updates - Race
Minute-by-minute updates for the 2024 Formula 1 United States Grand Prix
Formula 1 returns from its mini-break with a trip to the Circuit of the Americas, kick-starting the next triple-header.
With off-track headlines again dominating ahead of the weekend, it was Max Verstappen who took victory in the Sprint as Carlos Sainz edged out Lando Norris for second on the last lap.
But Norris set a sublime lap to take an unexpected pole for the main event, albeit with the assistance of a crash for George Russell which brought an early end to qualifying.
Who will win? The United States Grand Prix gets under way at 8pm BST.
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The top four all squeeze some more performance out of their aging medium tyres as they all dip into the 1m39s. With the pitstop cycle starting behind, who will blink first out of the frontrunners?
Perez has hit go, making the move on Tsunoda to take eighth. That's seventh now with Magnussen making a pitstop.
Will that be a chain reaction?
I’ve asked the FIA about both Verstappen incidents on lap one - they say race control looked at each and decided not to escalate to the stewards. Hence whey there have been not official messages on the timing screens here at the track.
Leclerc remains happily in the 1m39s which nobody can match as his lead grows to 7.3s over Verstappen at the start of lap 18.
"What?"
That was Russell's slightly exasperated response to the penalty being relayed to him on team radio.
"Total joke," is what Toto Wolff says.
The move from Russell on Bottas has drawn the attention of the race stewards.
That's a five-second penalty for him, forcing a driver off-track.
Verstappen has dropped to 6.2s back on Leclerc as he manages an issue with his Red Bull car that the team says it aims to fix it in his first pitstop.
A late lunge from Russell sees predecessor Bottas forced wide in the Sauber at T12. That's 14th for the Mercedes driver.
Plans A, B and C in the conversation over Leclerc's airwaves, who concludes "I want, probably, plan B or C." Bold or Courageous?
Until lap 11, only the top three could stay in the 1m39s - now, it’s just Leclerc. Mega pace so far from the Ferrari, which was loving the medium tyres in sprint quali.
A move for Lawson into T12 for 11th on the road, getting past his best mate this weekend Alonso.
Just one car between him and Perez now, an indication for next year?
"Feedback on Plan A, please?" Tom Stallard asks Piastri on McLaren team radio. "Ambitious," comes the reply from the Australian. A for Ambitious, got it.
Leclerc starts lap 12 with a 4.1s lead over Verstappen, who in turn has Sainz 1.5s back, and then a 2.3s gap to Norris in fourth. Thoughts are turning to tyre management even with the early safety car that gave the pack a few laps breather.
"Keep hanging in there," Sainz is told. One to keep an eye on but the Ferrari driver is motoring along OK.
A really clumsy spin at the top of Turn 1 for Zhou who is the latest to fall to the back.
There's a definite lack of grip out there.
Sainz's pace hasn't dropped as he remains third at the start of lap 11. "Driver default, delta 16, one, six," Sainz is told over team radio. Is that code for control + alt + delete?
Sainz has flagged he has "no power out of the corners" and that he can smell fuel in the car. Has he got a terminal mechanical issue?
Stroll's moment came up at T9, running wide at the top of the hill and into the dust.
Leclerc leads by 2.1s while Verstappen has moved out of DRS threat from Sainz.
Haas has been flying all weekend and now Hulkenberg gets by Alonso to move into the top 10.
Textbook with DRS into T12 for the German.
Leclerc pumps in a fastest lap to pull 1.2s clear of Verstappen, who has Sainz lurking behind with DRS.
Down the pack, Stroll had a moment and has dropped right to the rear of the field and is now in a fight with Ocon, Albon and Russell into the final sector.
Verstappen read Leclerc's restart perfectly and has kept pace with the Ferrari over the opening sector. DRS is re-enabled at the end of this lap.
Anyway, off we go again, as Leclerc blasts off around Turn 19.
McLaren has reported the Turn 1 incident between Verstappen and Norris to race control, as the team felt the Red Bull driver pushed their driver off the track and he wasn't in control of his car.
The safety car is coming in at the end of lap five. We are ready to go racing again.
This is the first safety car since the Canadian Grand Prix. What a remarkable run of no work on a Sunday for Bernd Maylander, but he is busy today as he continues to lead the pack around while a recovery truck picks up Hamilton's beached Mercedes.
Ocon's spin was a punt from Albon in a classic Austin T1 T-Bone.
Replays of Hamilton's incident show he just turns into T19 and the back-end just drifted around. All the hallmarks of a lack of grip and balance.
None of the frontrunners gamble with an early pitstop, so Leclerc leads Verstappen, Sainz, Norris, Piastri and Gasly behind the safety car.
The good start has gone to waste. He's beached in the gravel at the same corner team-mate Russell ended up in at the end of qualifying.
On lap three the safety car is deployed for Hamilton's off at Turn 19. Will anyone pit super early under this safety car?
Hamilton's out!
Norris left a gap for Verstappen to squeeze into at Turn 1, but they both ran wide and off track which opened the door to the Ferraris. Verstappen is paying for it now, as he comes under attack from Sainz again for second place.
Hamilton's had a stunning start and is up to 12th by the end of lap one, but Ocon was turned around at T1, falling to the back.
Verstappen goes well wide at Turn 12 but elbows his way back on to the track in front of Sainz. Leclerc leads as we complete a frantic lap one.
Leclerc leads from Verstappen, Sainz, Norris and Piastri.
Verstappen dive bombs Norris into Turn 1, forcing them both wide, which allows Leclerc into the lead from fourth on the grid! Wow!
Norris slots into pole position, here we go...
Just like the sprint race formation lap, the pack has stretched out massively, as Norris makes it to Turn 11 before Lawson even gets to Turn 2. The Brit doesn't bunch up the pack until he reaches the final corner.
Norris, at the front of the grid, leads the pack away for the formation lap around the Circuit of the Americas.
By: Autosport Staff
