From their rivalry in go-karts to the Formula 1 track, Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc talk about a relationship not always marked by happiness but where respect has never been lacking.
As the 2024 Formula One season approaches, two protagonists of the “new era” of Formula 1, Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen have discussed a relationship that started off “badly” in go-kart days but evolved significantly up to the premier class.
Historically, there’s a video of the two, fresh from a wheel-to-wheel battle in go-karts, angry at each other: “I never doubted that if I made it to Formula 1, Charles would too,” explains Verstappen. “From a young age, it was clear who the strongest were. Luck certainly helps, and being in the right team at the right time is crucial, but I’m not surprised that Charles is on the grid,” the Dutchman adds.
“For me, it’s the same,” confirms Charles Leclerc in a recent interview for the official Formula 1 website. “Certainly, when you’re young, F1 seems so far away. In those years, it was not certain that we would make it. We both knew we were fast. Even in go-karts, we were very competitive, and we have been at every stage. But frankly, I still couldn’t imagine making it to F1.” – the Ferrari man continues.
Charles Leclerc on Max Verstappen: “I have less pleasant memories, now almost amusing”
Going back to the past, the Monegasque driver confirms that the relationship with his rival Max Verstappen has not always been positive.
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“Now everything is fine, but I admit to having less pleasant memories,” explains Charles Leclerc. “I think over time, looking back, certain incidents become almost amusing. They were good times.” – he pointed out. Unfortunately, opportunities for the two to compete with equal cars have been rare. We had a taste of it in the early races of 2022, with extraordinary battles between two of the current F1’s best performers.
The hope is to experience a competitive championship battle between the two until the end. Red Bull has so far had the upper hand over the Ferrari – Charles Leclerc duo. Now it’s up to the Scuderia to redeem themselves.
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