Charles Leclerc is now firmly established as certainly one of Ferrari’s most vital drivers, sitting fourth on the record of all-time race begins for the long-lasting workforce in Components 1. With 126 race appearances below his belt, he lately surpassed Sebastian Vettel and is now aiming to cross Felipe Massa’s tally of 139 race begins, which he’s anticipated to attain across the center of the 2025 season. On the high of the record is Michael Schumacher, who received 5 championships with Ferrari and made 180 race begins for the workforce, whereas Kimi Raikkonen sits in second place with 151 begins. Regardless of the arrival of Lewis Hamilton in 2025, Charles Leclerc stays Ferrari’s golden boy, having been with their driver academy since 2016 and incomes his first F1 contract with Sauber in 2018 after his success in GP3 and Components 2.
Charles Leclerc’s rise in Components 1 was swift and spectacular, spending just one season at Sauber earlier than transferring as much as Ferrari. In his first yr with the Scuderia, he claimed a historic win at Monza, and since then, he has added eight victories, 26 pole positions, and 42 podiums to his résumé. His arrival at Ferrari marked the tip of a difficult interval for the workforce, with Leclerc outscoring four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel by a big margin of 24 factors of their first season collectively. This robust efficiency led to the announcement that Vettel would depart the workforce on the finish of the 2020 season, making approach for Carlos Sainz, who joined in 2021 and has since moved on to Williams.
Charles Leclerc’s uncooked expertise has earned him recognition from fellow drivers, with Esteban Ocon lately claiming that Charles Leclerc, alongside Max Verstappen, is among the most naturally gifted drivers in F1. At 27 years previous, the Monegasque continues to be looking for his first World Championship title, together with his continued consistency and spectacular performances inserting him among the many sport’s elite.
Earlier than Leclerc’s rise to prominence, Ferrari had already been carefully monitoring his progress throughout his early years in Components 1. Sauber was not the one workforce operating Ferrari engines in 2018; Haas, an American outfit based in 2016, was additionally utilizing the Italian producer’s energy items. Haas’s star driver that season was Kevin Magnussen, who performed an important position in securing the workforce’s fifth-place end within the Constructors’ Championship, contributing 56 of their 93 factors. Kevin Magnussen’s robust performances early within the season, together with 4 top-six finishes within the first 9 races, sparked curiosity from Ferrari.
On the similar time, Charles Leclerc’s begin to his F1 profession was extra measured. He completed thirteenth, twelfth, and nineteenth in his first three races, which led Ferrari to think about him as a possible backup possibility. The Monegasque driver even examined on their simulator, however the workforce’s preliminary curiosity waned as Charles Leclerc’s performances improved over the course of the season. Finally, Ferrari’s resolution to advertise him to their workforce was vindicated, as Charles Leclerc has gone on to develop into one of many workforce’s most promising abilities and is now a key determine of their pursuit of a championship.
“In 2018, we had a very good automotive within the first half of the yr,” – the Danish driver mentioned – “Charles had simply arrived in F1 with Sauber. And the beginning of his first season wasn’t nice. And mine was actually good! After which abruptly Ferrari was reaching out.” – he added.
“Abruptly I used to be driving of their simulator, not for Haas, however for Ferrari. They had been sniffing round. And I assumed, okay… I used to be already getting enthusiastic about the place this was going. However then Charles began to actually kill it! And I heard nothing. I don’t know the way shut it obtained. However I believe if Charles had not began to carry out, if he had had a s****y season all yr lengthy, I believe I’d have been one of many drivers they’d have checked out. Generally you’re feeling like you might be getting shut, however nonetheless not that shut. That’s the way in which it goes.” – he admitted.
Anthony Davidson has expressed a robust need to see Kevin Magnussen go head-to-head with Max Verstappen in a future Components 1 season, acknowledging the extreme rivalry that would emerge between the 2. Nonetheless, six years after Magnussen’s spectacular debut, he now finds himself with out a seat on the grid. With Haas opting to not renew his contract, as a substitute bringing in Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman for the upcoming seasons, it seems that Magnussen’s F1 profession could also be coming to an finish.
Magnussen’s early years in Components 1 had been marked by notable achievements that left followers and pundits alike impressed. His debut race in 2014, the place he completed on the rostrum in Australia, was a outstanding feat for a rookie driver, and he adopted it up with a surprising pole place on the 2022 Sao Paulo Grand Prix. But, regardless of these moments of brilliance, he by no means managed to safe a race win, a incontrovertible fact that has hung over his profession.
Together with his future in Components 1 unsure, Magnussen is eyeing a brand new chapter in motorsport, significantly with the rise of Cadillac as a possible F1 workforce beginning in 2026. If the American workforce decides to usher in a seasoned driver to steer their cost, Magnussen might very nicely discover himself on their radar, bringing his intensive expertise and aggressive spirit to a brand new setting.
Anthony Davidson, a former F1 driver and present commentator, has lengthy been an admirer of Magnussen’s driving fashion, which he describes as aggressive and unyielding. Davidson has usually identified that Magnussen is a “robust nut,” somebody who isn’t afraid to get entangled in wheel-to-wheel battles with a number of the finest within the enterprise. In keeping with Davidson, the prospect of Magnussen dealing with off in opposition to Verstappen, identified for his relentless racing and no-nonsense method, would create an exciting and fiery dynamic on monitor. Their intense driving kinds might result in some extremely thrilling and unpredictable racing, making for a spectacle that followers would eagerly anticipate.
Anthony Davidson’s enthusiasm for this potential matchup displays a broader sentiment within the F1 neighborhood: that the game is at all times higher when its most aggressive drivers are pitted in opposition to each other. In a world the place rivalries usually outline a season, the thought of Kevin Magnussen and Max Verstappen locking horns would undoubtedly present loads of drama and pleasure for F1 followers all over the world.
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