Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris during one of their battles on the track.
Credit: Clive Mason/Getty Images
On Sunday, just like in the sprint, Verstappen entered the first corner unchallenged and drove to the checkered flag without much drama. Norris probably had the speed to challenge him, but Charles Leclerc's Ferrari, which started the race on soft tires instead of medium, used its grip advantage to pass Norris at the first corner. Within about four laps, Leclerc's tires had already given their best, allowing Verstappen to take a small lead.
What followed was a wonderfully exciting battle between Norris and Leclerc for second place. The drivers had different strategies: Leclerc would switch to a medium after his soft tire, Norris would do the opposite. It took Norris a while to pass Leclerc the first time, with the McLaren driver trying the same cutback move in a number of corners without success before finally succeeding.
But Leclerc stopped first and when Norris changed his tires he had to overtake Leclerc again. This time, Norris was much braver on the brakes at Turn 12 to complete the action. Once in clean air, Norris matched Verstappen's speed, but the gap was too big to close.
Verstappen's victory brings him within 40 points of Piastri, while Norris is just 14 points behind his teammate. And remember: there are 25 points for a win; another non-finish for Piastri now would be a disaster. If Verstappen manages to overtake both, he will have overcome the largest points deficit in F1 history.
After a miserable season, both Ferraris did well at COTA, finishing third and fourth.
Credit: Clive Mason/Getty Images
History doesn't repeat itself, but they do say it rhymes. And I hear some of the same melodies as in 2007, when dueling McLaren drivers took points from each other to allow Kimi Räikkönen and Ferrari to win the drivers' championship – and also 1986, when dueling Williams drivers lost to Alain Prost's McLaren. If 2025 becomes Verstappen's fifth world championship, it should go down as his most successful.
And the wait won't be long: the next round will take place next weekend in Mexico City.
