Lewis Hamilton finished an encouraging fourth in the United States Grand Sprint race. He dispatched Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc for his best result since Silverstone.
Hamilton started eighth, two spots ahead of Leclerc, but the outlook of the race was transformed after the two McLarens tangled with Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg and Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso.
The seven-time world champion gained three places in the melee, but fell behind teammate Leclerc. However, a mistake from the Monegasque ignited a rare battle between the two.
LAP 9/19
Leclerc ⚔️ Hamilton
The Ferrari duo are battling their way down to Turn 12, with Hamilton ahead!#F1Sprint #USGP pic.twitter.com/ieDbCOd0ST
— Formula 1 (@F1) October 18, 2025
Hamilton subsequently got ahead with the aid of DRS, but he couldn’t catch the Williams of Carlos Sainz for the final podium spot, perhaps hampered by a second safety car late on.
Charles Leclerc magnanimous after Lewis Hamilton wins Ferrari battle at US Grand Prix
Speaking to Sky Sports after the Sprint, Leclerc said it was ‘better’ for Hamilton to overtake him than an external rival, ensuring the points stayed within Ferrari.
The Monegasque ran wide after a snap of oversteer through the sweeping first sector, and while he initially closed the door on Hamilton, he could no longer resist on the DRS straight.
Leclerc has a commanding lead in both head-to-head battles at Ferrari, but Hamilton beat him in both Sprint sessions at the US Grand Prix.
“It’s better that way than any other cars!” Leclerc said of the overtake. “I did a big mistake and nearly ended up in the wall at turn five, six, and then Lewis overtook me right after. It was difficult to recover the pace after that mistake.”
Jenson Button applauds Lewis Hamilton’s ‘lovely’ move on Charles Leclerc
Analysing the move for Sky, Karun Chandhok applauded Hamilton’s racecraft. He set up the move by taking a ‘tighter line’ through the turn 11 hairpin, and then threaded his SF-25 through a small gap as Leclerc defended the inside.
Ferrari have swapped their cars in multiple races this season due to strategic differences, but this was one of their few battles on a level playing field.
“Lewis gets close, backs out of it, chooses not to make the move in that sector of the lap,” Chandhok observed.
“Lewis gets a really good run. He takes a tighter line through 11, gets in the slipstream straight away. Now the DRS will pop open, and watch as he draws himself towards his teammate.
“Down the inside, Leclerc doesn’t fully cover the inside line, leaving just one car’s width. In the end, a nice clean overtake. Leclerc was fair there – he moved across to the inside, but crucially, left one car’s width. And that was all the invitation Hamilton needed.”
Jenson Button noted his former teammate’s increased ‘confidence’, particularly in the braking zone. It was a much-needed ‘boost’ for Hamilton, who was labelled the ‘biggest disappointment’ of 2025 by David Croft.
Button said: “Overtaking your teammate is always a boost, especially when it’s Charles Leclerc! Lovely move, the DRS worked a treat. Still, to have the confidence to put the car to the left and outbrake Charles…”
