Max Verstappen responds to Charles Leclerc’s claims that he can be beaten

Charles Leclerc is chasing Ferrari's first Monza win in five years this Sunday.

Max Verstappen responds to Charles Leclerc’s claims that he can be beaten

Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc (Via IMAGO)

With the Monza Grand Prix approaching, Charles Leclerc is confident that it is possible to defeat Max Verstappen. However, he acknowledges that this challenge will be exceptionally demanding, particularly considering Red Bull’s continued winning streak this season.

Ferrari eagerly awaits their first home victory since 2019 at Monza. Four years ago, Leclerc narrowly beat the then-Mercedes driver, Valtteri Bottas, for the win. In a pre-race interview with Sky Sports, Leclerc expressed his determination to outperform the Dutchman. Additionally, he said that Ferrari hopes to draw inspiration from the enthusiastic support of their fans at Monza to secure the elusive win.

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While responding to his Ferrari rivals’ claim, Max Verstappen downplayed it as a classic statement that drivers often make, emphasizing its motivational aspect. He told Corriere della Sera, “If they really thought I was unbeatable, they would give up everything. For me, it is a very normal comment. Every driver needs to feel the strongest.” The two-time world champion made it clear that he sees such statements as a natural part of the competitive spirit in Formula 1.

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Red Bull incurs a fine following Verstappen’s mistake during Italian GP practice

Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen
Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen (Credits: Scuderia Ferrari Fans)

The Formula 1 excitement has descended upon Monza, and following a notably productive practice session, Red Bull finds itself facing a financial penalty of €500. This fine was imposed due to an incident where Max Verstappen was detected exceeding the speed limit within the pitlane during the second practice session of the Italian Grand Prix.

Max Verstappen was recorded at a speed of 84.8 kilometers per hour (52.6 miles per hour), slightly exceeding the designated limit of 80 kilometers per hour (49.7 miles per hour) enforced for the weekend. Consequently, the stewards imposed a fine on Red Bull due to this infraction. It was a somewhat challenging session for Verstappen, as he encountered a significant amount of traffic on his fastest lap, ultimately securing the fifth-fastest time.

In pursuit of a better performance, Max Verstappen urged his race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, for another attempt. However, despite their efforts, they couldn’t improve their position. Meanwhile, Verstappen’s teammate, Sergio Perez, secured the third-quickest time but triggered a late red flag when he spun off and got stuck at the Parabolica. The fastest time of the session was set by Carlos Sainz of Ferrari.

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