Charles Leclerc reveals he used to HATE Max Verstappen when they were competing in junior racing championships

The pair share a relationship filled with mutual respect today, but this wasn't always the case.

Charles Leclerc reveals he used to HATE Max Verstappen when they were competing in junior racing championships

Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen (Credits: SI and The Independent)

F1 drivers, including Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc, embark on their racing careers at a remarkably young age, honing their skills behind the wheel from an early stage, primarily in karting. The duo are both regarded by many as the most talented drivers in the world, prodigies. The rivalry they shared for the first half of 2022 was a nail-biting duel.

However, the rivalry between the Monegasque and his Dutch counterpart returns to their karting days. Charles Leclerc, speaking to ORF, has revealed that contrary to the immense mutual respect and the high regard they hold each other in today, the pair hated each other back in their childhood. However, Leclerc emphasized how the current day differs, with both having matured significantly.

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“It is much better than when we were younger. But it is also very different. When we were young, we hated each other. We have competed against each other several times on the track and had several incidents. Surely, that didn’t help,” said Charles Leclerc, elaborating on their relationship. He believes that reaching F1, the pinnacle of motorsport, was where everything changed, with the duo maturing.

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“But today it‘s different. We are in a very different place in our careers. We both realized our dream which was to become a Formula 1 driver. He realized his dream of being a Formula 1 world champion. I am still chasing my dream to become an F1 champion,” he added. Leclerc and Verstappen continue to share intense battles on track but do so with utmost respect for each other.

Related: Max Verstappen’s comment fuels speculation of renaming Red Bull Ring as a tribute to the two-time world champion

Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen shared many heated battles in their karting days

Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen (Credits: Irish Mirror)
Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen (Credits: Irish Mirror)

During the early races of the 2022 season, Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc engaged in a fierce rivalry as they competed for the championship title. However, Verstappen ultimately emerged as the undisputed winner and secured a convincing victory after a closely contested initial phase. This rivalry between them served as a sequel to the intense competition they experienced back in their karting days when they were only 14 years old.

In the World Super Kart Euro Series 2012, these two talented young drivers were disqualified due to a contact incident that occurred beyond the finish line during the closing stages. Max Verstappen, visibly upset, walked away from the scene accompanied by his father, Jos. Verstappen vented his frustration, shifting the blame on Leclerc, deeming it unfair.

The interview host then promptly arranged an interview with the 14-year-old Charles Leclerc. As expected, Leclerc held a contrasting viewpoint on the matter. When questioned about what occurred with Max, he calmly stated, “Nothing, it’s just an incident on the race.” This disparity in their reactions highlights Charles Leclerc’s composed demeanor and Max Verstappen’s more aggressive approach, traits that reflect among them even today in Formula One.

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