Nestled comfortably on the sofa, it’s easy to dissect the winners and losers of the United States Grand Prix. But stepping into the shoes of the world’s top 20 racers, who pit their skills against each other every Sunday at the pinnacle of motorsport, shifts the entire perspective.

The true winner at the American Grand Prix held at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) is, in fact, the crowd. They erupted in cheers, swept up in the dramatic battle between championship contenders Lando Norris and Max Verstappen, celebrating every daring overtaking maneuver. The atmosphere peaked as fans stormed the track after the race, gathering at the podium to applaud Ferrari’s stunning one-two finish and the contentious third-place finish of Verstappen.

The real winner is the F1 fanbase, glued to their screens, fervently supporting their heroes and grappling with the controversy of Lando’s last-lap penalty, which drastically altered the finishing order between him and Verstappen.

As Max Verstappen clinched victory in the Sprint with Lando in P3 on Saturday, and Norris held onto pole position on Sunday, questions loomed over the Grand Prix: Were Max and Red Bull finally back? Could Norris capitalize on his starting position?
The tension was palpable, especially with Ferrari in the second row and whispers of recent inter-team disputes over flexible rear wings and quick-adjust front bibs adding to the drama. Turn 1, infamous for its chaos in past editions, promised to set the tone.

And it didn’t disappoint. Norris bolted off the line, veering left to defend against Max. But in doing so, he risked compromising his exit. Seizing the opportunity, Max dove into the gap. Though he’d ultimately run wide, his move forced Lando to steer even further out, allowing Charles Leclerc from the second row to dart through and seize the lead. By the end of the first lap, Lando had slipped back to fourth.

Curiosuly, the stewards showed no interest in investigating Max for what seemed like a clear case of forcing another driver off the track to gain an advantage. From that moment on, Lando’s mission became one of recovery. McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella voiced the frustration, stating, “Lando’s race was initially affected by Max pushing him off in Turn 1. After recovering positions thanks to good pace and strategy, he lost the podium due to a penalty we can neither understand nor agree with. This feels like an inappropriate way to alter a race result.”

Stella’s words captured the intense emotions surrounding the controversial finish in Austin, where Lando, in a thrilling late-race move, overtook Verstappen—only to be slapped on the very last lap with a five-second penalty that pushed him back into fourth, handing the Dutchman a podium spot.

The race’s dramatic conclusion left a bitter taste amidst Ferrari’s undeniable 1-2 success. Lando reflected on the day, clearly disappointed: “A frustrating afternoon. Starting first and finishing fourth is not what we hoped for. The Ferraris looked strong all weekend, and I was confident of a podium finish. Unfortunately, we lost it due to a decision beyond our control. It’s been a tough weekend, and we’ll regroup as a team and aim for strong points in Mexico next week.”

Oscar Piastri, finishing fifth, also secured valuable points for McLaren, contributing to a solid haul of 22 points against Red Bull’s 21. “It was a bit of a lonely race for me, starting and finishing in P5. But scoring decent points is crucial in the Constructors’ Championship fight,” the Aussie noted after the checkered flag.

With the Formula 1 calendar moving at breakneck speed, Mexico awaits. Time to reset and turn the page. Easier said than done, but as the colorful banner entering the COTA circuit quoted John Lennon: “Everything will be okay in the end. If it’s not okay, it’s not the end.”