A calculated drive to second at Circuit of the Americas pulls Charles Leclerc into striking distance of Russell, Hamilton, and Verstappen in F1’s tightest scrap.
While Kimi Antonelli spent Sunday afternoon at Circuit of the Americas authoring his ninth grand prix victory of 2026, the real tactical warfare unfolded directly in his mirrors.
Leclerc’s drive at COTA was defined by patience and precision. Capitalising on a compromised launch from Max Verstappen, the Monegasque driver slotted into clean air, executed…
That result transforms what looked like a two-horse British duel between George Russell and Lewis Hamilton into a volatile four-way free-for-all.
A calculated drive to second at Circuit of the Americas pulls Charles Leclerc into striking distance of Russell, Hamilton, and Verstappen in F1’s tightest scrap.