Charles Leclerc has explained how he was "worried" upon discovering he was the only leading contender to start the United States GP on soft tyres.
From third on the grid, Leclerc was the only driver inside the top 10 to opt for the C4 soft compound at the start, using the softer rubber well to leapfrog medium-shod Lando Norris to run second behind Max Verstappen.
Verstappen bolted as Leclerc duelled with Norris, the McLaren getting by on Lap 21, but then dropped back behind after the Ferrari pitted for mediums - with Norris eventually going to softs himself.
In the closing stages, the McLaren sliced by once again to finish second, with Leclerc third for Ferrari's first podium since third in Belgium.
Reflecting, Leclerc explained the thinking behind starting on the soft tyres, and his worry when the tyre blankets came off.
"I was a little bit worried when I saw that I was the only car on softs at the beginning," Leclerc explained.
"I knew it was a risky move, but what I had in mind was to use the soft to try and get free air, it was quite optimistic because we had two cars in front, but that's what we tried to do.
"We gained a position and that helped us a lot for the rest of the race, so I'm happy overall as it has been a tough second half of the year.
"To be back on the podium here after a difficult FP1 with the gearbox problem, we recovered well, so I am happy.
"I enjoyed [the battles with Norris], unfortunately, I lost out at the end, but I had fun in the car."
Most read
In this article
Join the conversation!