Charles Leclerc eyes Ferrari F1 title charge as Lewis Hamilton gets reason to smile

He had a miserable play astatine the United States Grand Prix but Lewis Hamilton volition person been cheered up by Ferrari announcing themselves arsenic F1 rubric contenders

Lewis Hamilton whitethorn beryllium astir to articulation a title-winning squad arsenic Ferrari oculus Formula 1 glory pursuing their United States Grand Prix success.

Charles Leclerc overtook pole-sitter Lando Norris astatine crook 1 connected the archetypal thigh of Sunday's contention and ne'er looked back. He led a archetypal Ferrari one-two connected American ungraded since 2006 which has enactment the Scuderia wrong striking region of McLaren astatine the apical of the constructors' standings.

With 5 rounds to go, the Italians are 3rd but lone 48 points down Norris' squad and Leclerc believes they tin get the occupation done. He said: "We person got to people winning the constructors' title. It is an optimistic extremity but that is what we are present for.

"We volition bash the maths astatine the extremity of the play but, until then, I deliberation the champion happening we tin bash is to absorption connected ourselves, connected our ain show It has been a truly bully play for the squad and for the constructors' title, and we volition effort to reproduce that arsenic often arsenic possible. Hopefully astatine the extremity of the year, erstwhile we bash the maths, we volition person won the constructors' title."

Leclerc volition beryllium joined astatine Ferrari adjacent twelvemonth by Hamilton who, successful contrast, endured 1 of the worst contention weekends of his full F1 career. He qualified 19th connected Saturday earlier losing the rear extremity of his Mercedes connected the 2nd thigh of the contention and beaching the car successful a gravel trap.

But the seven-time champion tin instrumentality comfortableness from the information his aboriginal employers look to yet beryllium superior contenders again. That is what Hamilton hoped would hap erstwhile helium decided to swap Mercedes for the celebrated reddish team, albeit 1 without an F1 rubric occurrence since 2008.

His past large move, from McLaren to Mercedes successful 2013, was viewed arsenic a monolithic hazard but 1 which paid disconnected arsenic six drivers' and 8 constructors' titles followed. Still, helium has chosen adjacent twelvemonth arsenic the close clip to extremity that palmy concern to effort thing new.

Hamilton volition beryllium 40 by the clip helium races a Ferrari car for the archetypal clip and volition request this power to beryllium different masterstroke if helium is to go champion again earlier helium retires. Ferrari's dominance successful Texas, arsenic Mercedes struggled with upgrades that did not look to person the desired effect, was an encouraging sign.

Not that brag Frederic Vasseur volition fto himself get excessively giddy astir the thought of becoming the archetypal Scuderia main to triumph an F1 rubric successful 16 years. The Frenchman said: "We took a large measurement forward. It is simply a choky conflict and astatine times it is the details that tin marque you faster oregon slower than the others.

"We person to stay focused. There are inactive 5 races remaining and astir 200 points. We person to stay focused connected delivering much bully results. We cannot deliberation that it ends here. We indispensable stay calm."