2016 Formula 1 world champion Nico Rosberg believes that the Formula 1 title fight between Scuderia Ferrari Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen will not remain civil, as he thinks a collision point is coming. For now, the two title rivals have been able to avoid any incidents or contact with one another despite the fact that they have been involved in four duels during the first four rounds of the 2022 Formula 1 season, in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Australia and Italy.
At all four GPs this year, Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen have found themselves running in first and second, often swapping positions with direct battles on track, each coming out on top on two occasions, without any major incidents. However, Nico Rosberg – who memorably collided with Mercedes then-teammate Lewis Hamilton as they battled for the F1 title in 2016 – feels that it is only a matter of time before things “get feisty” out front.
Charles Leclerc had a great start to the season, but has unfortunately lost many points in the last round of the championship, the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola, as the Monegasque driver made a mistake in the final stages of the race and almost crashed out. Charles was able to continue the race, but the crash dropped him from a potential second-place finish to sixth, losing important points in the fight with the Red Bull driver, who took advantage on a race weekend that saw him take home a maximum 34 points.
“For the sport, it’s been fantastic because it’s mixed things up, and we see this new battle now, with Charles Leclerc against Max Verstappen,” Nico Rosberg said, in a recent interview for Sky Sports F1 – “I think they’re kicking off where we finished last year, except it’s not Max against Lewis; it’s now Verstappen against Leclerc, and the battle is equally as enjoyable.” – he added.
Unlike what happened in the 2021 Formula One championship, the current fight for first place has yet to see the two title protagonists collide. The relationship between Scuderia Ferrari and Red Bull has also remained civil, with team bosses and other important figures on both sides of the divide offering only compliments to one another.
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However, Nico Rosberg does not feel that this situation will continue for too long: “It’s not as fiery yet but, believe me, if they keep at it like that, there will come a point where they will be touching, colliding and things will get a bit more feisty. I’m looking forward to that.” – the former Formula 1 driver concluded.
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