Ferrari vice chairman exposes the key factor that makes Charles Leclerc weak compared to Max Verstappen

Charles Leclerc is not yet on Max Verstappen's level, despite having challenged for last year's title

Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen via Irish Mirror

Max Verstappen is on the road to establishing his dominance for the second year coming, as he continues to overwhelm his opponents on track. The Dutchman, unsurprisingly leads the championship standings, and seems to possess no equal on the grid for the time being. Charles Leclerc was tipped to be one in 2022, but his misfortune has rubbished that claim on its own.

Scuderia Ferrari, who finished as the runners-up in the previous season, have faced difficulties in keeping up with the speed of the RB19 in 2023. Their pursuit of favorable outcomes has been hindered by mistakes from Charles Leclerc at the likes of Melbourne and most recently, Miami.

Ferrari vice chairman Piero Ferrari has described Verstappen as being at his peak, and has heaped praise upon him. On the other hand, while comparing Charles Leclerc to the Dutchman, Ferrari has revealed what distinguishes the pair of superstars.

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Speaking to Autosport, he said, “Charles has the speed to be equal to Verstappen. But he has less experience, in terms of number of GPs. Leclerc can still grow, he will grow….” Despite both drivers being of the same age, Max possesses much more experience in F1, having debuted at the raw age of 17. He asserts that Verstappen’s maturity, which has developed as a result of racing more than Leclerc at the pinnacle of motorsport is what gives him a big edge over the Monegasque.

Charles Leclerc will be bent on redemption at his home GP

Native to the principality that hosts the most prestigious Grand Prix on the calendar, Charles Leclerc is yet to taste success at Monaco. The Monegasque has a dreadful record around the streets of Monte Carlo, having only taken the checkered flag once since he began his career in F1. Last season looked to be his time, with Ferrari being competitive on pole. However, poor race strategy resulted in a meagre fourth place finish.

The Monaco Grand Prix circuit is a legendary street circuit known for its glamour and challenging layout. The track winds its way through the narrow, winding streets of Monaco, offering a unique and picturesque setting for high intensity racing, with no margin for error. Despite its compact size, it presents numerous demanding features and requires exceptional skill and precision from the drivers. The circuit is characterized by tight corners, narrow sections, and minimal run-off areas.

? A Mercedesnél / amely támadásba lendül, és a monacói hétvégétől komoly változásokat jelent be az autóban, ott van a Ferrari, amely sokkal óvatosabb megközelítést szeretne.. ?

? : Scuderia Ferrari #Ferrarista #EssereFerrari #MonacoGP ?? #F1 pic.twitter.com/mHQeXSlN1d
— Ferrarista.Hu ™ (@FerraristaHu) May 20, 2023

With Leclerc’s current form and inability to find consistency in 2023, the Monaco GP might present itself as his greatest adversary this season so far. The challenge will be for Leclerc to keep his car out of the barriers, while still putting in consistent lap times, as it is a track that requires confidence and bravery. These are qualities that he does not lack, so should he seek redemption for his recent shortcomings, this is the ideal scene for him.

Should he secure a positive result, even a podium, as a win looks unlikely given Red Bull’s current speed, it will be a massive boost in momentum for he and team, which is something they can build on to manifest stronger results in the future race weekends as well.