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

He had a depressing weekend at the US Grand Prix however Lewis Hamilton could have been cheered up by Ferrari asserting themselves as F1 title contenders

Lewis Hamilton could also be about to hitch a title-winning group as Ferrari eye Formulation 1 glory following their United States Grand Prix success.

Charles Leclerc overtook pole-sitter Lando Norris at flip one on the primary lap of Sunday’s race and by no means regarded again. He led a primary Ferrari one-two on American soil since 2006 which has put the Scuderia inside hanging distance of McLaren on the prime of the constructors’ standings.

With 5 rounds to go, the Italians are third however solely 48 factors behind Norris’ group and Leclerc believes they’ll get the job carried out. He mentioned: “We’ve received to focus on profitable the constructors’ title. It’s an optimistic aim however that’s what we’re right here for.

“We are going to do the maths on the finish of the season however, till then, I feel one of the best factor we will do is to deal with ourselves, on our personal efficiency It has been a extremely good weekend for the group and for the constructors’ title, and we’ll attempt to reproduce that as usually as attainable. Hopefully on the finish of the yr, after we do the maths, we could have gained the constructors’ title.”

Leclerc can be joined at Ferrari subsequent yr by Hamilton who, in distinction, endured one of many worst race weekends of his total F1 profession. He certified nineteenth on Saturday earlier than dropping the rear finish of his Mercedes on the second lap of the race and beaching the automotive in a gravel lure.

However the seven-time champion can take consolation from the very fact his future employers look to lastly be severe contenders once more. That’s what Hamilton hoped would occur when he determined to swap Mercedes for the well-known crimson group, albeit one with out an F1 title success since 2008.

His final massive transfer, from McLaren to Mercedes in 2013, was seen as a large threat however one which paid off as six drivers’ and eight constructors’ titles adopted. Nonetheless, he has chosen subsequent yr as the proper time to finish that profitable partnership to strive one thing new.

Hamilton can be 40 by the point he races a Ferrari automotive for the primary time and can want this change to be one other masterstroke if he’s to turn into champion once more earlier than he retires. Ferrari’s dominance in Texas, as Mercedes struggled with upgrades that didn’t appear to have the specified impact, was an encouraging signal.

Not that boss Frederic Vasseur will let himself get too giddy in regards to the considered changing into the primary Scuderia chief to win an F1 title in 16 years. The Frenchman mentioned: “We took an enormous step ahead. It’s a tight battle and at instances it’s the particulars that may make you quicker or slower than the others.

“We’ve to stay targeted. There are nonetheless 5 races remaining and round 200 factors. We’ve to stay targeted on delivering extra good outcomes. We can’t suppose that it ends right here. We should stay calm.”

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