Charles Leclerc Reminds Lewis Hamilton of “The Line” Ferrari Drivers Must Not Cross Against Each Other at COTA

Charles Leclerc has addressed the possibility of another tense battle with Lewis Hamilton ahead of the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA). The Ferrari teammates qualified fourth and fifth, respectively, for Sunday’s race. The close proximity raises the possibility of a collision early in the race.

“No, we know what is the line not to cross,” Leclerc said, according to Motorsport-Total, ruling out a repeat of a Monza-like incident at COTA. “And again, I think we’ve got some occasions throughout the year where I’ve crossed it, Lewis crossed it, and we don’t want to see that. This is clear.”

Charles Leclerc Explains Ferrari’s Expectations at COTA

The two Ferrari drivers face an early test at COTA, where the uphill approach to Turn 1 creates an opportunity to gain positions at the start. With Kimi Antonelli on pole position, Max Verstappen second and Isack Hadjar third, both Ferrari drivers will have rivals ahead of them as they approach the first corner.

Leclerc also explained why cooperation remains important, although he does not expect the Austin circuit to offer the same tactical opportunities as Singapore.

“I mean, it’s always important,” he said about teamwork. “I don’t think on a track like this, there’s anything like Singapore like that you can do with slowing down and all the team or whatsoever, but obviously just staying away from each other is always a good thing, no matter where we are.”

Hamilton, meanwhile, did not anticipate a major problem with his teammate. He praised Leclerc’s recent performances and expressed hope that he could challenge him during the race.

“Time will tell, we’ll see. I don’t really think we’ll have any problems, hopefully tomorrow,” Hamilton said. “Charles has been really strong in his last few races. His race pace is really strong. He’s maybe a little bit more comfortable in the car, and he’s been doing a great job.”

Monza Incident Explains Ferrari’s Anxiety

The earlier flashpoint came at Ferrari’s home race at Monza, where the pair fought for position on the opening lap. Hamilton attacked on the inside at Turn 1, but Leclerc held his line through Turn 2 and forced his teammate off the track. Hamilton lost several positions before recovering, while Leclerc retired on the second lap.

According to Sky Sports, Hamilton questioned Ferrari’s approach over the team radio, saying, “Here, there are no rules. We need to address that.”

Leclerc subsequently acknowledged his part in the confrontation. “Here, it’s true, though, that we went too far,” he said. He explained that Hamilton’s move at Turn 1 and his own response at Turn 2 had taken the battle too far.

The incident exposed a difference between allowing teammates to race freely and giving each other enough room to avoid contact. At Monza, both drivers pursued their positions, but the exchange left Ferrari with one car out of the race and the other forced to recover lost ground.

That history gives Leclerc’s latest comments a specific context. Rather than asking Hamilton to avoid competition altogether, he has recognized that both drivers must take responsibility for their decisions.

Their challenge at COTA is to compete for positions without repeating the costly mistakes from Monza.

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