F1 | Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton battle in Austin reignites talk of “old scores” at Ferrari. Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton went head-to-head at the 2025 United States GP.

The duel between Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton at Austin has reignited discussion among fans and analysts alike. Was it pure competition, or were there old scores left to settle between Ferrari’s two stars?

During the 2025 United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas, Charles Leclerc fiercely defended his position from Lewis Hamilton’s attacks. The British driver, running on fresher medium tyres and with DRS activated, attempted to overtake on the outside of Turn 12 on lap 22.

Charles Leclerc, warned over the radio that Hamilton was right behind him, held the inside line and refused to yield. Their intense on-track battle continued until the following pit stop, providing one of the most exciting moments of the entire race.

Ferrari’s pit wall informed only Charles Leclerc that his Maranello teammate was closing in, saying: “Hamilton has DRS.” The seven-time world champion then tried to go around the outside at Turn 12 but failed to make the move stick. According to former F1 driver and commentator Timo Glock, that firm defence might have had deeper roots—perhaps linked to the events in Baku, where team roles were not swapped as originally expected.

Timo Glock explained: “It doesn’t seem that there were any team orders, which shows that Ferrari allows its drivers full freedom to fight on track.” Despite the absence of clear team instructions, tension was visible in the garage. Hamilton stated that he hadn’t received any particular direction and avoided stirring controversy, while Leclerc downplayed the matter with a brief remark: “I didn’t want to waste time.”

That short comment, however, leaves room for multiple interpretations. In the end, Charles Leclerc finished third and Hamilton fourth—a solid result for Ferrari but also one that underlines the British driver’s ongoing quest for his first podium with the Scuderia.

According to Timo Glock, the lack of team orders is a positive sign for Ferrari’s internal environment. Yet Charles Leclerc’s victory in the head-to-head battle with Hamilton—and the missed top-three finish for the seven-time world champion—highlights that the internal hierarchy within the team remains fluid. The fight, both on track and within the garage, is clearly still alive.