You'd expect nothing less than Christian Horner to come out and staunchly defend Max Verstappen and he's done exactly that by stressing Lando Norris deserved his time penalty.

Horner believes Norris broke the sport's laws by overtaking off the track despite both drivers straying off the asphalt and is protesting Red Bull's innocence in Texas.

Clarifying the situation on Sky Sports, Horner said: 'They've gone off the cirucit and Lando passed off the circuit.
'The rules are clear. He clearly goes off the circuit. Both did but you can't overtake.
'I can understand the frustration but the rules are the rules and drivers know that. Max was acutly aware as soon as Lando went off-track that was illegal.'

Well the Mercedes team chief is incredibly unhappy with the penalties that were handed out today and has brazenly suggested some stewards are being biased with their decision-making.

Mercedes driver George Russell was one of a handful of drivers hit with penalties in Texas before Norris was controversially penalised for his move on Verstappen.

'Lando got a penalty and I guess it's a bit of biased decision-making,' Wolff initially told Russell on team radio at the end of the race.

He later told Sky Sports: 'We have seen a few incidents that were exactly the same and weren't penalised.
'I think we know why we got penalty but can't say why on television and also that penalty at the end.
'Sometimes there are correlations. When decision-making it is a bit interesting. At the end of the day it is a difficult job, some stweards are very good and you need to salute these guys.'

Lando Norris has done well to keep his cool after the race but is slightly edgy as he gives his opinion on the stewards decision to hand him a five second penalty that ultimately cost him third.

The Brit belives no action should have been taken against him and suggests Verstappen should have been punished heading into the first corner of the race when he went off the track.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Norris said: 'He [Verstappen] went off the track as well so perhaps he was going too hard. He has overtaken by going off the tack [at turn one] and has defended going off the track. Max drove well, defended well.
'We probably ended up where we expected to be. I would have iked third and thought we deserved third. It was a tough weekend from the start.'

JONATHAN MCEVOY AT THE U.S. GRAND PRIX: What you can't do is offer your title rival the freedom of Texas and expect to beat him to the most fiercely contested prize in motor racing.

That is what Lando Norris did in the US Grand Prix. Max Verstappen needs no second invitation. He is adept at threading his rampaging Red Bull through the eye of a needle with sledgehammer force, let alone blast down a hole he should never have been afforded.

READ THE FULL RACE STORY BELOW

Here's the full confirmed race result with Ferrari the days victors, Verstappen holding out for third, while McLaren are forced to miss out on podium celebrations on a rare difficult day.

George Russell did brilliantly to finish in the points after starting from the pits while it was also a strong day for Haas and RB.

It's easy to forget that Ferrari were the biggest winners of the day as Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz drove the perfect race to claim a one-two podium finish.

It's not been the season that the Italian garage would have been hoping for but today is a show that they are making improvements.

Lewis Hamilton will perhaps be quietly appreciating Ferrari's dominance in Texas from behind-the-scenes as he prepares to join the team next season.

You'd think Verstappen might look slightly happier with finishing on the podium but cuts a steely figure as he speaks with Jenson Button.

Verstappen was annoyed with Norris when the McLaren ace passed him and refuses to comment further on the situation after the action.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Verstappen said: 'It was a tough battle, I tried everything I could to keep him behind.
'I have my opinion and don't need to say it here, we leave it to the stewards, for us it was a race we learned a lot and will just analyse that.'

Whatever the outcome, this was a sensational battle between the two title challengers that ended with Norris finally overtaking only for him to be hit with a five-second penalty for exceeding track limits.

What do you think of the move? Both drivers each believe they were in the right of course.

Red Bull are relieved as positions are reversed with Verstappen awarded third after Norris was given a five-second penalty following their battle.

It wasn't as comfortable a day as Red Bull were originally expecting but it's a step in the right direction as they finish ahead of McLaren for the first time in what feels like forever.

Verstappen keeps character by continuining to complain about Norris on the team radio as he crosses the line.

Norris is hit with a five second penalty on the final lap and can't do enough to keep his position, finishing just four seconds ahead of Verstappen that hands the Red Bull third place!

You have to feel sorry for the British driver there as he is punished for the earlier overtake. Verstappen gains an advantage over Norris in the championship standings.

We've barely mentioned Chalres Leclerc but we will now as a rather uneventufl day sees him claim a dominant victory in Texas.

Leclerc took the lead at the first corner by taking advantage of Norris and Verstappen scrapping and never looked back from that moment on.

Ferrari lock out the top of the podium with team-mate Carlos Sainz finishing second. Great day for the Italian garage!