Leclerc says Ferrari has no special start rules for him and Hamilton at U.S. GP
NXTbets Pro | Published On: October 25, 2026
Charles Leclerc start rules
Charles Leclerc said Ferrari has set no special rules for the start of the United States Grand Prix, even with he and Lewis Hamilton set to line up fourth and fifth at Circuit of the Americas. Their qualifying positions put them close enough to influence Turn 1, a corner known for opening-lap trouble. Leclerc said both drivers know where the boundary sits. “We know what the line is not to cross,” Leclerc said. He said he and Hamilton have crossed that line at times this season, and the task now is straightforward. They need to avoid each other and work together.
Ferrari and Hamilton contact
The sharpest warning came at Monza, where Hamilton tried an inside move at Turn 1 and the cars made contact. Hamilton finished sixth there, while Leclerc was out after two laps. That collision fed straight into the discussion inside Ferrari before the United States Grand Prix. Ferrari boss Frederic Vasseur held private talks with Leclerc and Hamilton after the Italian Grand Prix incident. The team has already seen how fast one move at the first corner can change a race for both cars. At a track where Turn 1 can open the door to trouble, the start carries real weight.
Championship contention remains
Leclerc said he and Hamilton remain mathematically in championship contention, which keeps every decision at the front in focus. That makes the first lap a key part of Ferrari’s weekend. The message from Leclerc points to restraint, not caution for its own sake. He wants both drivers to leave room for each other and stay in the race. If they do that, Ferrari keeps both cars in position. If they repeat the Monza contact, the result can turn quickly.
