After extraordinary pole position obtained in Friday qualifying, Charles Leclerc demonstrated again that the feeling with his SF-23 is there and it doesn't seem to be weakening. In the Sprint Shootout, the Monegasque obtained second position, next to him though in the front row it was there at the start the hungry Verstappen. The maneuver at the limit of the Red Bull driver during the United States Grand Prix Sprint it cost the second one location in Leclerc, as Hamilton took advantage of it and overtook the Ferrari driver.
Leclerc takes the Sprint podium in the United States
It was said happy with the work done by Ferrari, Charles Leclerc, admitting however that the only one pole position wasn't enough. Definitely aware of the fact that Verstappen would not make a mistake again after qualifying, Leclerc achieved an excellent second position for the start of the Sprint Race of the United States Grand Prix.
At the departure of Sprint however, one extreme defense maneuver by the three-time World Champion, Verstappen, risks sending Leclerc off track. Huh Lewis Hamilton takes advantage, who started from third place, managed to slip between the Monegasque and the Red Bull driver. Charles Leclerc can't keep up with the pace of two ahead, which are getting longer and longer. In the last four laps, the driver of the Scuderia Ferrari drops in performance, thus risking lose the position to Norris. The two are now glued, but Leclerc crossed the finish line in front.
“There was the possibility and I tried to attack Max”
"The opportunity was there and there was no shortage of space, I tried to attack Max, but he ha defended well even if a little at the limit" admits Leclerc when interviewed. He then continues by saying: “I then lost my position on Hamilton, but they were stronger than us in terms of race pace. I had to work to understand what we can do better to be one step ahead on Sunday".
Carlos Sainz he differentiated his strategy compared to other drivers fitting the soft tyre for Sprint. His teammate Leclerc says: “We have choosen two different strategies and this It will help us because we know how the soft ones will behave". The number #16 of the Maranello team will start from first place in the Austin race and hopes: “Let's hope we can win".
