Charles Leclerc returned to the podium at the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, marking his first top-three finish since the Belgian Grand Prix in late July. The Ferrari driver ended a five-race podium drought by finishing third behind Max Verstappen of Red Bull and Lando Norris of McLaren.
The weekend began with challenges for the Monegasque driver, who faced gearbox issues during the first practice session. Despite the setback, Leclerc managed a strong qualifying performance and a competitive race pace on Sunday. Starting on soft tyres while most competitors opted for mediums, he gained an early advantage by overtaking Norris at the first corner.
Leclerc managed to defend his position for more than twenty laps before returning to the pits for a switch to medium tyres. As the race unfolded, strategy and tyre management played a key role. The Ferrari driver reclaimed second place after several pit stops but eventually yielded to Norris, who had fresher tyres in the closing stages.
The result was a welcome relief for Leclerc, who had endured a difficult second half of the season marked by inconsistency and technical problems. His teammate, Lewis Hamilton, finished just outside the podium, while Oscar Piastri was unable to challenge for the top positions in the second McLaren.
Leclerc now sits fifth in the drivers’ championship with 192 points, maintaining a healthy lead over Hamilton. Meanwhile, Verstappen’s victory tightened the standings, leaving him just 40 points behind the championship leader. With renewed confidence and improved performance from Ferrari, Leclerc heads to the next round in Mexico with optimism and the momentum he has been seeking since the summer break.