Ferrari completed its second pit stops for Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc on consecutive laps of the 2026 United States Grand Prix, sending both drivers back onto the Circuit of the Americas on hard tyres for the decisive final phase. Hamilton rejoined sixth behind Isack Hadjar, while Leclerc emerged fourth, nine seconds behind Max Verstappen, leaving the Scuderia with two separate battles to pursue in the closing stages.
The Ferrari Austin pit stops came at a crucial point in the 56-lap race, with Hamilton benefiting from tyres 13 laps fresher than those on Hadjar’s Red Bull. Leclerc, meanwhile, faced the challenge of recovering a nine-second deficit to Verstappen with approximately 16 laps remaining. Both Ferrari drivers now had opportunities to improve their positions, although the outcome would depend on their pace relative to the cars ahead.
Lewis Hamilton rejoins sixth with a significant tyre advantage
Lewis Hamilton made his second pit stop at the end of lap 38, switching to the hard compound before returning to the track in sixth position. The seven-time world champion emerged immediately behind Isack Hadjar, setting up a potentially important battle between Ferrari and Red Bull.
The notable difference between the two drivers was the age of their tyres. Hamilton’s new hard tyres were 13 laps fresher than those fitted to Hadjar’s car, offering a potential advantage as the race approached its conclusion.
However, fresher tyres do not automatically guarantee superior pace or an overtaking opportunity. Hamilton would still need to close the distance, negotiate Austin’s demanding corners and find a way past the Red Bull on track.
The situation also carried championship implications. Kimi Antonelli had entered the United States Grand Prix with an opportunity to secure the 2026 Drivers’ Championship, subject to his own result and those of his remaining mathematical rivals. Hamilton’s finishing position was therefore relevant to the title calculations, with a recovery into the top four representing one of the results that could prevent the Mercedes driver from clinching the championship in Austin.
For Ferrari, the immediate sporting objective remained straightforward: use Hamilton’s fresher tyres to recover as much ground as possible during the final part of the race.
Charles Leclerc returns fourth, nine seconds behind Max Verstappen
Ferrari followed Hamilton’s stop by bringing Charles Leclerc into the pits on the next lap. The Monegasque completed his second stop on lap 40, also taking on hard tyres before rejoining the race in fourth position.
Leclerc emerged approximately nine seconds behind Max Verstappen, leaving the Ferrari driver with a sizeable gap to overcome before he could challenge the Red Bull directly.
With around 16 laps remaining, the difference represented an ambitious target. To reach Verstappen, Leclerc would need to gain more than half a second per lap on average, assuming the gap developed consistently and there were no further interruptions or significant changes in race circumstances.
That calculation illustrates the scale of the challenge rather than predicting the outcome. The relative pace of the Ferrari and Red Bull on their respective tyres remained the key variable, and the nine-second deficit alone did not establish whether Leclerc could catch Verstappen before the chequered flag.
Ferrari’s consecutive pit stops set up two different final-stint challenges
By completing both second stops within two laps, Ferrari had moved Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc onto the same hard compound for the final phase of the United States Grand Prix.
The two drivers nevertheless faced contrasting situations. Hamilton had a Red Bull immediately ahead and a substantial advantage in tyre freshness, while Leclerc had a much larger gap to close before an opportunity to attack Verstappen could materialise.
The late-race picture also contrasted with Ferrari’s encouraging opening lap. Leclerc had initially surged from fourth to second after passing Verstappen, while Hamilton had gained a position from fifth on the grid. During the following laps, the changing race order and different pit-stop sequences had created fresh challenges for both drivers.
Leclerc had already demonstrated his ability to make progress through the field, including an overtake on George Russell for fourth at Turn 15 on lap 20. Hamilton, meanwhile, had reported difficulties turning his SF-26 through slower corners earlier in the Grand Prix, prompting Ferrari to suggest a cockpit setting adjustment.
As the race entered its closing stages, Ferrari’s decisions had placed both drivers in positions from which further gains remained possible. Hamilton’s pursuit of Hadjar offered the more immediate wheel-to-wheel opportunity, while Leclerc’s nine-second gap to Verstappen provided a longer-term challenge over the remaining laps.
Whether Ferrari could convert those opportunities into additional positions would depend on how effectively the fresh hard tyres performed and how quickly the two drivers could reduce their respective deficits before the finish.
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