Charles Leclerc: A One-Stop Strategy Was Not Possible for Us

Pulse Sports Team 23:18 - 25 October 2026

Charles Leclerc displayed strong pace throughout the United States Grand Prix, but crossed the line in second place at the Circuit of the Americas, finishing 13 seconds behind race winner Andrea Kimi Antonelli.

Strategy proved to be the deciding factor between the two. Antonelli committed to a single pit stop, whereas Leclerc and Ferrari opted for a more aggressive two-stop approach. Speaking after the race, the Monegasque admitted that managing the full distance on a one-stop strategy was simply out of reach for Ferrari.

"Overall, we drove a pretty strong race. Unfortunately, we couldn't secure the win, which was our main target, but at the end of the day it was still a positive outing for us. We had solid pace, even though the first stint proved more challenging. Kimi made a one-stop strategy work, which was simply not an option for us. Even so, we were in the mix with Max and had good race pace throughout. It was an enjoyable race, with some great battles early on and later with Max," Leclerc said.