Norris delivers candid Ferrari verdict after US GP duel with Leclerc

Passed off the line, Lando Norris didn’t have it easy as he fought his way back to a crucial second place in the title race. Charles Leclerc put up a fierce fight all the way to the closing laps, but ultimately had to concede to the MCL39’s superior pace — both in terms of performance and tyre life.

“I found it difficult enough just to get close to Charles, and their pace wasn’t bad at all,” the Brit told GPblog at the end of the race.

And about his battle with Leclerc: “The pace was pretty close. I think that’s why it was so difficult — because we were quicker, for sure, but not by a lot. And therefore, there were some challenging lap-after-lap battles, trying to put him under pressure, trying to make him make some mistakes here and there.

“He didn’t make many, for sure. But I think especially the final stint, I managed to get the tyres into a good window, drop back a few seconds, re-attack, and I managed to kind of catch him a bit more off guard with a couple of laps.”

Finally, Norris added: “A good result in the end. For a minute, I was not expecting to finish second. I thought he was just a bit too quick for us. But to get back into second and get past was perfect.”

Buoyed by his return to the podium, Charles Leclerc was equally candid about Ferrari’s realistic expectations heading into this weekend’s Mexican Grand Prix.

The team’s last victory came exactly a year ago at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, when Carlos Sainz claimed what remains his most recent career win.

Speaking to GPblog after the race in Austin, and asked whether a win in Mexico might be possible, Leclerc admitted: “I think we need to be realistic in our situation, and I don’t think we quite have the car to do so.”