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Charles Leclerc

Leclerc says he and Hamilton know where to draw the line in Austin

Archive photograph: Charles Leclerc · 2026-05-13Archive photo · 2026-05-13 · Gabriel Hutchinson · CC BY-SA 4.0

Leclerc said he thought he and Hamilton had both crossed the line this season; the Ferrari teammates were due to start fourth and fifth.

Charles Leclerc said he and Lewis Hamilton know the line they should not cross when racing each other, though he thought both had crossed it at times this season. The Ferrari teammates were due to start Sunday's United States Grand Prix fourth and fifth; Leclerc said Ferrari had set no specific rules for their opening move into Turn 1.

One recent example came at Monza, Ferrari's home race. Hamilton lunged up the inside at Turn 1 and the pair made contact on the opening lap. Leclerc held his line into Turn 2, and Hamilton went off track. Hamilton dropped from fourth to tenth before recovering to sixth, while Leclerc crashed out on lap two.

Leclerc said keeping clear of each other is important at any circuit.

Sources 01
  1. SOURCECharles Leclerc sets boundaries with Lewis Hamilton ahead of Turn 1 battleMotorsport.com F1