WATCH: Carlos Sainz fights wheel to wheel against Charles Leclerc during US Grand Prix sprint race

In a fiercely contested sprint race at the US Grand Prix, Ferrari drivers Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc delivered a thrilling wheel-to-wheel battle that captivated fans. The internal Ferrari duel was a highlight of the race, as both drivers fought intensely for the fourth position, with Sainz eventually emerging victorious after a series of gripping overtakes.

The race began with Max Verstappen, in typical dominant fashion, leading from pole position and maintaining his 100% sprint record this season.  Behind Verstappen’s commanding lead, the real action was brewing between the two Ferrari drivers.

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On lap four, Sainz made an ambitious attempt to pass Leclerc, locking up and running wide, giving Leclerc a brief reprieve. However, Sainz wasn’t done. His relentless pursuit of his teammate paid off a lap later when he finally surged past Leclerc to claim fourth place, marking the culmination of a tense battle that began right from the start of the race.

Leclerc, frustrated by the ongoing intra-team scrap, had urged Ferrari to focus on closing the gap to their rivals ahead. Yet, the battle within the Scuderia raged on, much to the delight of spectators. Sainz's move on Leclerc allowed him to set his sights on George Russell and Norris in the laps that followed.

Sainz made some amazing overtakes!

By lap nine, Carlos Sainz had closed in on Russell and managed to slip into fourth, as Russell struggled with fading tyres, particularly on his front left, which he later described as "toast." Leclerc followed suit, capitalizing on Russell's tyre woes to claim fifth place.

The action-packed race was not just about Ferrari. Verstappen’s flawless performance earned him a fourth consecutive sprint win this season, extending his championship lead over Norris by two points to 54. Meanwhile, Norris managed to hold onto third, despite a late lock-up that almost cost him the podium to Leclerc.

In the constructors' championship, Red Bull’s win helped them close the gap on McLaren to 39 points, with both Sergio Perez and Oscar Piastri finishing out of the points. Ferrari, despite their drivers' intense battle, will have to regroup and focus on making inroads against their rivals in the races to come.