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Leclerc reveals Ferrari breakthrough after securing US Grand Prix podium
Charles Leclerc believes a recent setup and driving breakthrough helped him finish second in Austin.
By Michael de Vries - 2026-10-26T11:59:22.000Z - 3 min read
Charles Leclerc feels he has successfully unlocked something within his Ferrari package over recent Formula 1 rounds, a development that paved the way for his runner-up finish at the United States Grand Prix. The Monegasque driver delivered a strong charge at the Circuit of the Americas, executing a two-stop strategy that culminated in a late pass on Red Bull rival Max Verstappen to secure second place behind race winner Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
Speaking to media after the race, Leclerc explained that recent events have brought a clearer understanding of how to set up and drive his machinery. Combined with an upgrade package brought by the Scuderia to Austin, this has generated a noticeable shift in his confidence behind the wheel. He noted that the current generation of ground-effect cars requires a very specific approach, and recent weeks have unlocked a better harmony between driving style and setup choices.
Despite the encouraging Sunday result, the weekend carried notes of frustration for the Maranello-based squad. Ferrari had dominated the practice sessions, topping the timesheets across all three practice periods and establishing themselves as the team to beat heading into qualifying. However, that pace evaporated when the session mattered most in Q3, where tyre temperature struggles dropped Leclerc and team-mate Lewis Hamilton to fourth and fifth on the grid respectively.
Leclerc admitted that failing to capitalise on their practice speed during qualifying likely cost them a shot at overall victory. Once Sunday afternoon arrived, his race pace was robust enough to climb through the order, though catching the leading Mercedes proved out of reach. He acknowledged that while he pushed hard and queried the leader's pace, the gap was too large to bridge after losing valuable time fighting through traffic with Max Verstappen and Lando Norris.
Looking ahead to the remainder of the 2026 season, the podium finish bolsters Leclerc's position in the championship standings. He currently sits fifth overall but remains tightly locked in the battle for second place in the drivers' classification. He sits only nine points adrift of Mercedes driver George Russell as the championship heads into its final stretch.
Whether this newfound comfort can be directly converted into a victory remains uncertain given the fine margins at the front of the grid and the development trajectories of rival teams. Yet, Leclerc remains confident that another race win is achievable before the season concludes, pointing to their recent competitive proximity in races like Austin and Singapore as evidence that the team is moving in the correct direction.
Ferrari's overarching weekend execution remains a point of internal critique despite the positive race performance. Leclerc emphasized that while the individual components of speed were evident throughout practice, the team lacks the overall robustness required to dominate an entire grand prix weekend cleanly from start to finish.