The competition at the front of the Formula 1 grid is incredibly fierce, with seven different drivers having claimed victory in a Grand Prix this season.
Max Verstappen is on the cusp of securing his fourth world championship, despite McLaren and Lando Norris having shown superior pace at several points over the summer months.
The Dutchman was dominant in the early part of the season, securing seven wins from the first ten races. Known for his ruthless precision in wheel-to-wheel battles, Max Verstappen has consistently come out on top when racing against Norris this year. Despite his success, Sky Sports F1 pundit Martin Brundle has suggested that there is one driver he believes could be even faster than Max Verstappen.
Charles Leclerc, who made his debut with Alfa Romeo in 2018 following his Formula 2 championship win, has demonstrated blistering pace since entering F1. The Monegasque driver is exceptional in qualifying, often extracting the maximum performance from his car in a single lap—a crucial skill given the challenges of overtaking in modern Formula 1, where the cars are wide and the track positions difficult to change.
However, Charles Leclerc has occasionally pushed beyond his limits at Ferrari, notably in qualifying for the 2024 Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring. Martin Brundle pointed out that while Charles Leclerc’s pace is undeniable, he must work on eliminating the unnecessary mistakes that have hindered his consistency. If he can do that, Martin Brundle believes Charles Leclerc could match the performance of his new teammate, Lewis Hamilton, in the upcoming season.
Martin Brundle remarked: “I think Charles is probably the fastest driver in the Formula 1 right now. He pushes the car himself, the tyres and the track to the absolute limit, and he occasionally ends up in the wall. So he’ll have to stop that. But, I think that’d be even stevens, actually. But Lewis knows how to win a World Championship. He knows how to win many world championships. And as Lando [Norris] has found out this year, that’s a piece of information that you have to go and find out. And Charles hasn’t found that out yet.” – the Sky Sports F1 pundit pointed out.
Charles Leclerc has the potential to propel Ferrari towards a strong challenge for the Constructors’ Championship this season.
The Maranello team faces a crucial decision regarding whether Lewis Hamilton or Charles Leclerc will lead Ferrari into the 2025 season, but their hopes for the Constructors’ title this year remain alive. Ferrari currently trail the leaders, McLaren, by 36 points with just three races remaining, meaning they will need both strong performances and a bit of fortune to clinch the championship.
Charles Leclerc is set to start the Las Vegas Grand Prix from fourth on the grid, while his teammate, Carlos Sainz, will begin the race in second. Crucially, both Ferrari drivers are positioned ahead of the two McLaren cars of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris at the 6.2-kilometre Las Vegas Strip Circuit in Nevada, offering a promising start. However, Ferrari has faced difficulties in matching the front-running teams, especially at this particular race, one of the cooler events of the season. This will likely require a strategic approach and perhaps favorable conditions for Ferrari to close the gap and continue their pursuit of the title.
