Is Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc higher than Max Verstappen? However how will you even reply such a query. We’re speaking about drivers racing in the identical period and of the identical age. All true. Nonetheless, they’ve two very completely different tales, which clearly emerge once you take a look at their résumés. Max Verstappen has received 4 Components 1 world championships, the Monegasque has none. A proven fact that makes you suppose, however solely up to some extent, as a result of with out the appropriate automotive and a united group behind you, it’s laborious to win.
But, the Dutchman managed to do it final season, bringing house an exceptional Components 1 world title. He had an ideal automotive at the beginning of the 2025 F1 season, however then, from Miami onwards, the prevalence of the MCL38 single-seater began to make an impression. On the identical time, Crimson Bull went right into a technical stoop, recovering solely within the last third of the season. However the Dutchman by no means gave up, optimizing each race weekend.
Along with his immense advantage, particularly evident in some instances, like in Brazil, the place he began seventeenth and completed first, three components helped him quite a bit. First, Crimson Bull. A group able to turning ineffective setups inside out after which offering Max Verstappen with the absolute best efficiency for every Grand Prix. A magic circle that makes an enormous distinction in Components 1.
The opposite benefit issues McLaren’s incapability to capitalize. The Woking group threw away a ton of factors and, above all, determined to wager on the mistaken driver. Oscar Piastri’s begin to this 2025 Components 1 season confirms it. The final level, and never a minor one, is Ferrari’s return to competitiveness from Monza onwards. The Maranello group’s drivers had been capable of struggle for race victories and subsequently took many factors away from Lando Norris.
Has Charles Leclerc ever discovered himself in such a scenario? It appears not. Has he ever had dominant vehicles like Max Verstappen? Once more, it appears not. May he have achieved extra? In all probability sure. The one yr the place he had a automotive able to preventing, for some time, was 2022. In that championship, for a few third of the Components 1 season, except for reliability points, the Monegasque driver was driving a powerful automotive. In all probability, just a few extra factors may have been earned that yr.
Nevertheless, it should be stated that the regression suffered by the F1-75 was so drastic that successful with it grew to become nearly inconceivable. Would Max Verstappen have achieved higher in his place? Who is aware of… it’s doable. The actual fact stays that these are all simply opinions. That’s exactly why, contemplating this quick abstract, at the very least from our perspective, it stays fairly tough to make a definitive judgment. All that apart, Max Verstappen stays a rare Components 1 phenomenon.
The actual purpose of this text was to not decide who’s the higher driver. Undoubtedly, taking a look at Max Verstappen’s numbers and placing him forward of the Ferrari man when it comes to statistics, one may say that Charles Leclerc excels in a number of key areas. He’s extremely quick, aggressive, excellent in wheel-to-wheel battles, and extremely tactical when wanted. Certainly one of many examples was simply final weekend on the 6.174-kilometre Jeddah Corniche Circuit, the place his excellent tire administration earned Ferrari the primary podium for the 2025 Components 1 marketing campaign.
However there’s one other high quality that many, mistakenly, have hardly ever attributed to him in recent times. We’re speaking about his technical capacity to develop the automotive with the group and steer the course when it comes to driving fashion and upgrades. If there have been nonetheless any doubts, after the primary 5 Grands Prix of the season, can we are saying that with out Charles Leclerc Ferrari could be totally misplaced? Completely sure.
Up by means of the Chinese language Grand Prix, the Monegasque driver studied the Ferrari to grasp the best way to optimize its efficiency together with his driving fashion. And we’re not simply speaking about uncooked driving expertise. No, sir. We’re speaking in regards to the capacity to grasp the automotive higher than the Ferrari technicians and engineers and to impose his expertise to enhance the dealing with and enhance efficiency. It has usually been stated that whereas Charles Leclerc is quick, he doesn’t know the best way to develop the automotive, is just not a take a look at driver, and doesn’t contribute to the group’s progress, all claims which were repeated many instances regardless of being unfounded.
However the course taken since Shanghai is so clear that it proves all that mistaken. And it’s exactly when issues come up {that a} driver’s capacity involves gentle, not simply in driving, but in addition in guiding the group towards the appropriate path. Charles Leclerc is doing this as soon as once more, proving to be the true and solely chief of this group. The one Ferrari replace that, within the 2025 championship, is working brilliantly. Simply ask Lewis Hamilton for affirmation.
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