“At the moment it seems that Red Bull has the upper hand in the races,” Charles Leclerc on his title feud with Max Verstappen


“At the moment it seems that Red Bull has the upper hand in the races,” Charles Leclerc on his title feud with Max Verstappen

Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen

The 2022 Formula 1 season has delivered what it promised, closer racing and more on track racing action. The new rules and regulations consisting of the ground effect cars, 18 inch tyres and new fuel mix were introduced to aid the drivers in overtaking. The Ferrari and the Red Bull have been the most opportunistic in this new era and their drivers are locked in a season long title fight.

ADVERTISEMENT

After five rounds completed in the current season, Charles Leclerc leads Max Verstappen at the top of the drivers standing by a gap of 19 points. The Red Bull driver has closed the gap massively on his rival by taking the win in the last two Grand Prix. The reigning world champion, Verstappen had a rough start to the season with two DNF, but has found his mojo back. Charles Leclerc acknowledged this by saying “At the moment it seems that Red Bull has the upper hand in the races.”

ALSO READ : F1 2022: The impact one less race could have on the budget caps of teams

Charles Leclerc feels comfortable with his lead over Max Verstappen

This is the first time in his Formula 1 career that the Monegasque leads the drivers championship. However, his title rival, Max Verstappen was in a year long feud with Lewis Hamilton in the 2021 season. This provides a major contrast in the experience both drivers have for fighting for the world championship.

ADVERTISEMENT

As things stand, Leclerc is being hunted down by the driver with the number 1 on his Red Bull car. Max admitted that he likes the position of being the hunter, instead of the hunted as he learnt that in a high tension title duel last year. On the other hand, Charles feels comfortable in either position as he said “I don’t really mind, to be honest, whichever position I am in – I just want to be the most competitive out there”

The championship leader further added “I quite like this position to be honest, because it means that you are doing something right.” The sixth round of the 2022 championship is hosted at Barcelona. The Ferrari are expected to bring new parts for their F1-75 in quest of bouncing back in the title fight. Leclerc remains hopeful that the upgrades assist him to extend his lead over Verstappen at the Spanish GP.

ALSO READ : Max Verstappen pays an ode to teammate Sergio Perez’s instrumental role in Abu Dhabi GP: “Champion thanks to him”

ALSO READ : “So many stupid things come out of America” :Bernie Ecclestone not impressed by Miami GP ploys

ADVERTISEMENT