Leclerc beats Verstappen to second as Ferrari misses out on a double podium

Leclerc wins the battle with Verstappen

Ferrari left Austin with Charles Leclerc in second and Lewis Hamilton in fourth, but also with the feeling that a double podium had been within reach. Leclerc passed Max Verstappen in the closing stages of the United States Grand Prix, while a late Virtual Safety Car interrupted Hamilton’s pursuit of the Dutchman.

Leclerc started fourth and immediately joined the fight for second. After exchanging positions with Verstappen, he stayed in contention on a two-stop strategy. His final set of hard tyres allowed him to catch the Red Bull and finish as race winner Kimi Antonelli’s closest challenger.

Strategy and Hamilton’s difficulties

Despite his strong finish, Leclerc does not believe a different strategy would necessarily have delivered victory. He felt Mercedes had recognised the one-stop opportunity more effectively, but suggested the outcome would probably have been much the same even if Ferrari had followed that plan.

Hamilton’s main difficulty was the balance of his car. The Briton explained that starting on used tyres had made his opening stint harder and that the car was not behaving as he wanted through the corners. Nevertheless, he praised the strategy and the mechanics’ work.

A missed opportunity and hopes for Mexico

Hamilton and Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur believe there was a realistic chance of getting both cars onto the podium without the late neutralisation. That opportunity remained untested: the seven-time champion finished just behind Verstappen without enough time for a decisive attack.

The result gives Ferrari grounds for optimism ahead of Mexico. Leclerc said the direction of the latest upgrades was increasing his confidence behind the wheel. Vasseur highlighted qualifying as an area where the team needs to improve. Austin demonstrated race pace that the Scuderia will try to turn into an even stronger result next weekend.

Sources: Formula1.com · Formula1.com — reactions