* The accident between Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso
Everyone’s hearts stopped on lap 22 of the Formula 1 United States Grand Prixwhen Fernando Alonso (Alpine) rammed Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) and the Spanish car took flight, hit the guardrail, but was able to stay in the race. While the Canadian’s machine was badly damaged, but the pilot did not suffer physical consequences and got off by his own means.
It was after the first neutralization to remove Valtteri Bottas’ Alfa Romeo – which also had an accident – that Alonso sought to overtake his future teammate and son of Aston Martin team owner Lawrence Stroll.
On the long backstretch of the Circuit of the Americas, Lance moved his car to the left as Fernando looked for the pass. But the right front wheel of the Spaniard’s car touched the left rear of the Canadian’s car and that acted as a springboard for the Alpine, which rose and traveled several meters with both front wheels in the air. Then he fell, colliding with the guardrail, but the 41-year-old Asturian was able to continue in the race. He actually went into the pits and after the tires were changed he continued. The two-time world champion in 2005 and 2006 finished seventh in the competition.
But the competition was neutralized to remove Stroll’s Aston Martin, whose reckless maneuver was analyzed by the Race Direction and it is possible that he will receive a penalty for his reaction when his rival tried to overtake him. Such actions in overtaking instances are often called “sweeps” in jargon, and are generally punishable because it is considered an unlawful way of defending a position. But Stroll’s case is more serious because he did it with the cars very close and generated a crash that put his and Alonso’s integrity at risk.
After Stroll’s car was removed the competition resumed and in the last section there was an entertaining fight between Max Verstappen (Red Bull) y Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) in which the two-time world champion prevailed.
Verstappen had finished third after a second and poor stop in the pits in which he was delayed 36 seconds by the failure of one of the mechanics’ pistols. But once he got back on track the Dutchman’s pace was hell and after beating Leclerc he went for Lewis Hamilton, who had been left in the lead.
It was on lap 50, six from the end, when Verstappen overtook Hamilton and regained control of the competition, since at the start he left the poleman behind, Carlos Sainz (Ferrari), who had a bad start and after being overtaken by Max received a touch of George Russell (Mercedes) and was out of the race.
Verstappen reached his 13th victory of the season and equaled the mark achieved by the Germans Michael Schumacher (2004) and Sebastian Vettel (2013). Max’s win allowed Red Bull to win the Constructors’ World Championship.
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