Verstappen and Leclerc enjoyed their opening-lap fight as Antonelli pulled clear

Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc said they enjoyed their fierce opening-lap fight for second at the United States Grand Prix, even though it gave polesitter Kimi Antonelli the chance to pull away.

Leclerc made the first move after a strong start, going around the outside of Verstappen and passing him through the opening corners. He said he had avoided braking too late into Turn 1 so he could still try to cross back at the exit. Leclerc also said Hamilton was close and that he used more battery energy to draw alongside Verstappen through Turns 3, 4 and 5.

Verstappen said he initially expected to settle in because there was still a long race ahead. The pair then fought from Turns 12 to 15, he said, and he regained second with a bold pass at Turn 15. He also called Leclerc’s battery use between Turns 2 and 3 a good move, and recalled Hamilton on his outside at Turn 6, where he had to work hard.

Leclerc eventually finished ahead, helped in part by a better strategy and stronger pace on fresher hard tyres. He was second behind race winner Antonelli, with Verstappen third. Antonelli joked that their fight had made his life easier.