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 if you take a look at their résumés. Max Verstappen has received 4 Method 1 world championships, the Monegasque has none. A indisputable fact that makes you suppose, however solely up to a degree, as a result of with out the precise automobile and a united workforce behind you, it’s arduous to win.
But, the Dutchman managed to do it final season, bringing house an outstanding Method 1 world title. He had an incredible automobile firstly of the 2025 F1 season, however then, from Miami onwards, the prevalence of the MCL38 single-seater began to make an influence. On the identical time, Pink Bull went right into a technical hunch, recovering solely within the ultimate third of the season. However the Dutchman by no means gave up, optimizing each race weekend.
Along with his immense benefit, particularly evident in some instances, like in Brazil, the place he began seventeenth and completed first, three parts helped him loads. First, Pink Bull. A workforce able to turning ineffective setups inside out after which offering Max Verstappen with the very best efficiency for every Grand Prix. A magic circle that makes an enormous distinction in Method 1.
The opposite benefit issues McLaren’s incapability to capitalize. The Woking workforce threw away a ton of factors and, above all, determined to wager on the unsuitable driver. Oscar Piastri’s begin to this 2025 Method 1 season confirms it. The final level, and never a minor one, is Ferrari’s return to competitiveness from Monza onwards. The Maranello workforce’s drivers have 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 state of affairs? It appears not. Has he ever had dominant vehicles like Max Verstappen? Once more, it appears not. Might he have performed extra? In all probability sure. The one yr the place he had a automobile able to preventing, for some time, was 2022. In that championship, for a couple of third of the Method 1 season, apart from reliability points, the Monegasque driver was driving a robust automobile. In all probability, a couple of extra factors might have been earned that yr.
Nevertheless, it should be stated that the regression suffered by the F1-75 was so drastic that profitable with it turned nearly not possible. Would Max Verstappen have performed higher in his place? Who is aware of… it’s attainable. The actual fact stays that these are all simply opinions. That’s exactly why, contemplating this brief abstract, at the very least from our perspective, it stays fairly troublesome to make a definitive judgment. All that apart, Max Verstappen stays a rare Method 1 phenomenon.
The actual goal 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 might 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. One among 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 Method 1 marketing campaign.
However there’s one other high quality that many, mistakenly, have hardly ever attributed to him lately. We’re speaking about his technical means to develop the automobile with the workforce and steer the route when it comes to driving model 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 can be totally misplaced? Completely sure.
Up by means of the Chinese language Grand Prix, the Monegasque driver studied the Ferrari to grasp learn how to optimize its efficiency along with his driving model. And we aren’t simply speaking about uncooked driving expertise. No, sir. We’re speaking in regards to the means to grasp the automobile higher than the Ferrari technicians and engineers and to impose his expertise to enhance the dealing with and increase efficiency. It has usually been stated that whereas Charles Leclerc is quick, he doesn’t know learn how to develop the automobile, shouldn’t be a take a look at driver, and doesn’t contribute to the workforce’s development, all claims which have been repeated many instances regardless of being unfounded.
However the route taken since Shanghai is so clear that it proves all that unsuitable. And it’s exactly when issues come up {that a} driver’s means involves mild, not simply in driving, but in addition in guiding the workforce towards the precise 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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