Ferrari's Charles Leclerc secured his second podium of the 2026 season, as he finished third in the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday, March 29. During the race, the 28-year-old driver had a cold battle with his teammate, Lewis Hamilton, and had minor contact as well.
Charles Leclerc reacts to minor contact with Lewis Hamilton
After watching the highlights of the battle, Leclerc had an unusual reaction. At the safety car restart, Lewis Hamilton kicked off from P4, behind George Russell and performed a move on him into Turn 1. Eventually, the Mercedes racer let Charles Leclerc to pass, which led to a battle between the two Ferrari drivers.
For the final podium spot, Lewis and Leclerc had a short but tough competition as the seven-time F1 champion gave it all to secure his second podium of the season. On the Turn1 of the Lap 42, Leclerc made a move which led to a minor contact between the two drivers.
After the race finished, Charles Leclerc rewatched the contact in the cooldown and gave his insights, where he said that during the incident he thought that he had a puncture, with no facial expressions.
"We touched, I thought I had a puncture," said Charles Leclerc.
During the fight for P3 with Hamilton, Leclerc sent a message through the team radio, saying the former Mercedes racer was slowing him down, which made him lose lap time.
Charles Leclerc's fine form for Ferrari
In the ongoing 2026 season, Charles Leclerc is going through a fine form as he managed to bag two podiums in three races so far. The 28-year-old driver clinched third place in both Australian and Japanese Grand Prix
In the Chinese Grand Prix, Leclerc had a P4 finish following a tough wheel-to-wheel duel with his teammate, Lewis Hamilton.
After three races, Leclerc sat at the third place in the 2026 Formula 1 Driver standings with 49 points for Ferrari.