Why raw pace couldn't overcome a flawed tyre strategy
In short: Charles Leclerc was nearly a second faster per lap than the leader during his final stint at the 2026 United States Grand Prix. The study investigates how victory slipped away from Ferrari due to their specific pit timing and compound selection.
Leclerc secured a second-place finish via a two-stop Soft-Medium-Hard plan, even though he displayed superb speed on the hard C2 tyre. In contrast, Andrea Kimi Antonelli won the race using a more effective one-stop approach. The analysis highlights that while the SF-26 was competitive at the end, Ferrari struggled to replicate the winning strategy.
The video examines specific tactical decisions, including an extended overcut against Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton's battle with Isack Hadjar. It also looks at how a late Virtual Safety Car prevented Verstappen from moving into third place, questioning whether Ferrari's tyre choices were the correct decision given the circumstances.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Ferrari's USA GP tyre strategy explained: Why Charles Leclerc couldn't win
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