AUSTIN – Charles Leclerc said Ferrari could win its first constructors' championship since 2008 after leading Carlos Sainz to a one-two finish at the United States Grand Prix.

Leclerc overtook the dueling Lando Norris and Max Verstappen at the start and disappeared into the distance for a comfortable victory.

The result was that Ferrari overtook Red Bull to take second place in the championship, moving to within 40 points of McLaren.

Leclerc's victory and the pace Ferrari showed throughout the weekend suggested the company had taken a positive step with the modernization introduced for this weekend's race at the Circuit of the Americas.

“We have to aim to win the constructors’ title,” he said after the victory.

“It's an optimistic goal, but that's what we're here for. We will reckon like any other season, until then the best thing is to focus on ourselves and our own performance, like we did this weekend.”

“It was a really good weekend for the team and for the constructors’ title. We'll try to repeat that as often as possible and hopefully at the end of the year, when we do the math, we'll have won the constructors' title.”

Leclerc, who is now 79 points behind Max Verstappen in the drivers' standings, said much more was needed for the championship for Ferrari to celebrate.

“If we do everything perfectly by the end of the season, no matter what McLaren does, if we do better than them, I think we can still win the title. When it comes to drivers, I see things a little differently. If we do everything perfectly, it takes a bit of luck to get this title. We can't really rely on luck.

“The drivers seem pretty unlikely, but I'll believe it until it's mathematically impossible… but (it's) harder.”