Max Verstappen’s manager names a non-championship winning F1 driver who’s ‘equally talented’ as the Dutchman

Max Verstappen's manager Raymond Vermeulen claimed that an non-F1 champion was as talented as the reigning world champion.

Max Verstappen’s manager names a non-championship winning F1 driver who’s ‘equally talented’ as the Dutchman

Max Verstappen (via IMAGO)

Max Verstappen has been in a league of his own in recent years. The Dutch driver had a record-breaking campaign in 2023. Rivals have struggled to match Verstappen in the ground-effect era of Formula 1. However, the 26-year-old’s manager Raymond Vermeulen has now named Charles Leclerc as perhaps an equally talented driver as the three-time world champion.

Verstappen and Leclerc are considered two of the best drivers of the new generation in Formula 1. The two went head-to-head for the 2022 world title. However, the Dutchman emerged victorious after a dominant latter half of the season.

Vermeulen claimed that Charles Leclerc was equally talented as Max Verstappen. The three-time world champion’s manager praised Leclerc’s pole laps and deemed some of his performances as unbelievable. The Monegasque driver has 23 pole positions to his name, even more than two-time world champion Fernando Alonso despite the massive difference in F1 experience.

FS Video
Charles [Leclerc] is equally talented as Max [Verstappen], some of his pole position laps are just unbelievable.
Raymond Vermeulen said on F1 Nations podcast
YouTube video

Raymond Vermeulen highlighted that Leclerc had mastered the art of racecraft. So much so, that Vermeulen reckoned that Charles Leclerc would undoubtedly be an F1 world champion if he was given the right package in the future. The Ferrari driver has proved his worth in the sport considering these comments came from his arch-rival Max Verstappen’s manager.

He also has the race craft. If Leclerc has the right package.. I mean Charles Leclerc is a future Formula 1 champion.

Can Charles Leclerc challenge Max Verstappen for the 2024 F1 title?

Max Verstappen and Red Bull have dominated Formula 1 in recent years. This pairing has been unmatched as rivals struggle to come close. However, Charles Leclerc and Ferrari would be looking to potentially fight for victory against the reigning world champions.

Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc
Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc (via IMAGO)

Leclerc has expressed his satisfaction after the Bahrain pre-season test after Ferrari faced no unpleasant surprises. Moreover, Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur reckoned that the Scuderia was on another planet with its running at Sakhir. However, Max Verstappen has been equally delighted with his runs in the RB-20 and had a massive smile on his face.

Certainly, fans would be hoping to see Charles Leclerc give Max Verstappen a run for his money this year. However, it is likely that the Scuderia trail behind Milton Keynes at least in the first half of the season. As such, it would be interesting to see if Leclerc could finally put an end to Verstappen’s dominance in the pinnacle of motorsport.

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