Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc are one of many high performers in F1’s present period. The 2022 season noticed them come shut in a championship battle, the place Leclerc completed in second place. Each drivers have made sturdy legacies within the sport and proceed to battle for the highest spot on the grid.
Nonetheless, they share a historic rivalry. Even earlier than the duo entered the world of single-seater open-wheel racing, they confronted one another on tracks in karts. They have been the highest of the category in karting, and though Verstappen had a extra unbeatable file, he was satisfied that Leclerc would make it to Components 1 as effectively, contemplating his competitiveness.
Throughout the 2023 Las Vegas GP (the primary race held on the observe), Max Verstappen revealed to the media that he all the time knew Charles Leclerc would make it to F1. He talked about that there are fairly a couple of good drivers who get to the top of motorsports. On the identical time, nevertheless, he talked about that it requires a little bit of luck to get into a powerful and aggressive crew.
“I all the time thought that if I might make it to F1, Charles may even make it,” Verstappen mentioned. “You may see already from I feel a younger age, you understand, the actually sturdy drivers, what they have been again then, they’re additionally in F1 now.”
He added:
“In order that’s by no means been a shock to me, you understand, that Charles is sitting right here, and naturally, then after that, you want perhaps additionally just a little little bit of luck to be in the proper crew right here and there, you understand, to get on the entrance row. Nevertheless it’s not a shock that we’re sitting right here collectively, I feel.”
Verstappen has had a extra profitable profession to this point in F1 in comparison with Leclerc. He managed to win 4 consecutive World Championships between 2021 and 2025, dominating for greater than two seasons. He’s nonetheless a contender for the title this season; nevertheless, the possibilities are seemingly slim.
Max Verstappen feedback on Pink Bull’s historic efficiency in Singapore
Singapore is the one observe on the present F1 calendar that Verstappen hasn’t received. Even in his years of dominance, Pink Bull Racing all the time confronted points on the observe, and up to now decade, the Dutchman has completed no higher than P2, which was his end final 12 months.
Heading into the race this 12 months with two consecutive victories on his portfolio, Max Verstappen addressed the problem that Pink Bull has confronted on the observe in current seasons. He was requested about how the race would have an effect on his competition within the Drivers’ Championship, contemplating he has by no means received right here earlier than.
“It’s like some other, I simply attempt to do my finest,” Max Verstappen instructed the media. “After all, I do know up to now this has not been notably our strongest observe, plus generally a bit unlucky to [not] get a greater consequence round right here.”
“I’m relaxed, simply having enjoyable, right here and outdoors of F1. In that sense, [it’s been] a great season.”
Max Verstappen presently sits in third place within the Drivers’ Championship. He managed to cut back the hole on the high to only 69 factors; nevertheless, with simply seven races remaining within the season, it might be fairly a problem for him to clinch the title.
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Edited by Gunaditya Tripathi
