Ex-Mercedes Cheif deems Charles Leclerc and Ferrari as Max Verstappen’s main 2024 rival

Charles Leclerc and Ferrari had an extremely disappointing 2023 F1 season.

Ex-Mercedes Cheif deems Charles Leclerc and Ferrari as Max Verstappen’s main 2024 rival

Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen at Las Vegas GP (Via IMAGO)

Max Verstappen, the reigning F1 world champion, was able to breeze past its competition during the 2023 campaign. While several people are seeing the lights of Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton as Verstappen’s main 2024 rivals, the ex-Mercedes Chief Executive, Nick Fury, has a different viewpoint.

According to him, Max Verstappen‘s main rival for the 2024 F1 season could be Charles Leclerc and the Ferrari F1 team. Nick Fury believes that given the firepower at the Maranello-based team’s disposal, they could pose a real threat.

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While shedding light on the same in detail, Fury said, as reported by OLBG:

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I believe that McLaren will continue to improve. I hope they're in a position to win races. I'm not sure if they're good enough to consistently beat Red Bull or Ferrari yet... I think that's a stretch. McLaren have to be realistic about their evolution.

Looking at the reaction, it seems that Nick Fury is putting his money on the Fred Vasseur-led team to make waves during the 2024 F1 season. Ferrari, despite the best efforts, was only able to manage a third-place finish in the 2023 Constructors Championship.

Charles Leclerc recently signed a multi-year deal at Ferrari

While Fury has backed Charles Leclerc and Co. to challenge Red Bull this year, the former recently signed a new multi-year deal with the Italian team. Leclerc desperately wants to win a world championship with Ferrari.

Charles Leclerc
Charles Leclerc (via IMAGO)

Moreover, the Monegasque is seen by Ferrari as their most prized possession. This is one of the reasons why Leclerc has got a new deal in comparison to his teammate, Carlos Sainz. Talks regarding the Spaniard’s new deal are currently at a standstill.

While the exact duration of the 26-year-old’s new deal has not been made public, there is a general belief that the contract is long-term. Keeping everything in view, it is quite clear that Ferrari is going to back Charles Leclerc and that they see him as the driver who would bring glory to the team.

Ferrari is a huge name in F1 that has amassed several accolades over the years. However, things have been tough for them as they last won the driver’s championship way back in 2007, when Kimi Raikkonen was driving for them. Charles Leclerc will amass immense attention during the upcoming campaign.

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