Verstappen wins but Hamilton and Leclerc both disqualified

Freshly minted triple world champion Max Verstappen completed a hat trick of Texan victories on Sunday when he claimed the 50th win of his career in a tense and strategic United States Grand Prix. The 26-year-old Dutchman, who started sixth on the grid in his Red Bull car, worked his way through the field to take control before he came home 2.225 seconds ahead of resurgent seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton.

Verstappen, who won his third straight title last time out in the sprint at Qatar, said: "Starting from sixth position made things a little more difficult. Fifty wins is incredible and to do it here I am very proud. Now we keep on pushing for more." Mercedes star Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari's Charles Leclerc were both disqualified from Sunday's US Grand Prix after their cars failed post-race inspections. Former world champion Hamilton had finished second behind Max Verstappen in Austin while Leclerc came in sixth. Both drivers saw those results scratched, however, after a technical team found excessive wear of their cars floor planks.

The disqualification came following a hearing that took place approximately four hours after Verstappen, who has already clinched the driver's championship, powered to victory in Sunday's race. A statement by motorsport's governing body, the FIA, said both teams had acknowledged the findings of the inspection report, stating that the irregularities were likely caused by the bumpy track and the tight turnaround for Sunday's race after Saturday's sprint.

“The Stewards note that the onus is on the competitor to ensure that the car is in compliance with the regulations at all times during an event... therefore the standard penalty for a breach of the technical regulations is imposed," the statement said. Hamilton's disqualification means McLaren's Lando Norris was promoted to second, with Leclerc's Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz, who finished fourth, bumped to third. Mercedes driver George Russell moved up to fifth from seventh following Leclerc's disqualification.

© Agence France-Presse