“I have a lot of respect for Max,” Charles Leclerc opens up on his ‘different’ relationship with Max Verstappen
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Charles Leclerc (on the left) and Max Verstappen (on the right)
The start of 2022 promised a Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen battle. The two are widely considered the two best drivers of the ‘new’ guard and tussled on many occasions in 2019 as well. They do have quite a bit of history in karting as well, with a notable ‘inchident’ between them.
But Imola onwards, Leclerc has scarcely been able to keep up with Max Verstappen. Some of that is through his own mistakes, such as in Imola and France. But a lot of that just comes from Ferrari’s own missteps, and after the summer break, the F1-75 has just been the inferior car. While one would expect tension between title rivals, the two seemed and still do seem to have quite a good relationship.
Leclerc said that the two have a more mature relationship than they did during their karting days. Speaking to RacingNews365.com, the Monegasque said: “Now it is very different [than in karting], but I said before that the relationship would be more tense if we were at the end of would compete for the points in the Formula 1 season. But that’s how it goes, that’s part of the sport.”
Leclerc has a lot of respect for the Dutchman: “Of course I have a lot of respect for Max. He has done very well and I have a lot of respect for what he has achieved. When we drove in karts, we dreamed of Formula 1 together and here we are now! He has the title I won and I have a lot of respect for that.”
Charles Leclerc on Carlos Sainz: “Our bond has also become closer”
Carlos Sainz hit the ground running in Ferrari after his move to the team. While their (Charles Leclerc and his) performances over the season were of a similar calibre, the Spaniard must be applauded for how quickly he adapted to the car. He even finished best of the rest, 4 points ahead of his teammate.
The first person you are judged against is your teammate because they are the only person with the same machinery. The Ferrari duo, however, seem to have quite a good working relationship. On his teammate, Charles Leclerc said: “My relationship with Carlos is very good.” adding: “We didn’t talk much before Ferrari, except when he told me that he dreamed of driving for Ferrari one day.”
He added: “But yes, our relationship is very good. In racing we are of course very competitive, but together we work very well to help the team move forward. Besides the track we do a lot of activities together, so our bond has also become closer.” Indeed, there have been no shortage of funny moments with the two together.
Especially at the start of the season, Carlos Sainz had trouble adapting to the car. But that has improved from Canada onwards, he has been far closer to Leclerc. The Monegasque thinks that his teammate is indeed getting faster, and hopes that he can improve further.
Also Read: ‘If he has the right package’: Max Verstappen’s manager believes Charles Leclerc can be world champion
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Aniket Tripathi
(1002 Articles Published)