Charles Leclerc was delighted to say a podium at the US Grand Prix amid a “robust second a part of the 12 months”, with the Monegasque comfortable {that a} “dangerous” technique to start out on the mushy tyres paid off.
Whereas many of the discipline lined up on the medium compound when the race obtained underway on the Circuit of The Americas, Ferrari opted to place the C4 mushy rubber onto Leclerc’s automobile in P3. The Monegasque overtook McLaren’s Lando Norris on the opening lap, earlier than defending robustly towards the Briton as they fought over P2.
Whereas Norris finally discovered a well past, Leclerc quickly pitted for the medium tyres – and ended up forward of Norris once more within the latter levels as soon as all the pack had made their pit stops.
As one other shut duel unfolded between them, Norris struggled to get forward of the Ferrari however finally made his transfer into Flip 12 with a couple of laps remaining. Regardless of lacking out on second place, Leclerc nonetheless claimed his first podium because the Belgian Grand Prix in July by taking P3.
Trying again on his race – by which he was the one automobile within the prime 15 to start out on the mushy tyres – Leclerc conceded: “I used to be somewhat bit fearful after I noticed that I used to be the one automobile on softs at first, however I sort of knew that it was a little bit of a dangerous transfer.
“What I had in thoughts was to make use of the softs to attempt to get free air – it was fairly optimistic as a result of we had two vehicles in entrance, however that’s what we tried to do.
“We at the very least gained a place, and that helped us so much for the remainder of the race.”
Whereas he misplaced out on a spot to Norris by the end, the 28-year-old added of their battle: “I loved it. Sadly, immediately I misplaced out on the finish, however I had enjoyable within the automobile.”
Having confronted some robust moments throughout latest race weekends – in addition to dropping mileage throughout first apply in Austin owing to a difficulty on his automobile – Leclerc was significantly happy along with his outcome.
“I’m very comfortable general as a result of it has been a tricky second a part of the 12 months, and to be again on the rostrum right here after what was a tough FP1 with a gearbox drawback, we did properly, so I’m comfortable,” the eight-time race winner mentioned.
