Is Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc higher than Max Verstappen? However how are you going to 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 have a look at their résumés. Max Verstappen has received 4 Formulation 1 world championships, the Monegasque has none. A indisputable fact that makes you suppose, however solely up to some extent, as a result of with out the correct automotive and a united group behind you, it’s onerous to win.
But, the Dutchman managed to do it final season, bringing residence an exceptional Formulation 1 world title. He had an amazing 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 influence. On the identical time, Crimson Bull went right into a technical droop, recovering solely within the remaining 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 circumstances, like in Brazil, the place he began seventeenth and completed first, three parts 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 Formulation 1.
The opposite benefit considerations McLaren’s lack of ability to capitalize. The Woking group threw away a ton of factors and, above all, determined to guess on the mistaken driver. Oscar Piastri’s begin to this 2025 Formulation 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 in a position to 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 finished extra? Most likely sure. The one 12 months the place he had a automotive able to combating, for some time, was 2022. In that championship, for a few third of the Formulation 1 season, except for reliability points, the Monegasque driver was driving a powerful automotive. Most likely, just a few extra factors might have been earned that 12 months.
Nevertheless, it should be mentioned that the regression suffered by the F1-75 was so drastic that successful with it turned virtually unattainable. Would Max Verstappen have finished higher in his place? Who is aware of… it’s doable. The very fact stays that these are all simply opinions. That’s exactly why, contemplating this quick abstract, not less than from our perspective, it stays fairly tough to make a definitive judgment. All that apart, Max Verstappen stays a unprecedented Formulation 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 by way of 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. Considered 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 Formulation 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 capability to develop the automotive with the group and steer the path by way of driving type 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 know learn how to optimize its efficiency together with his driving type. And we’re not simply speaking about uncooked driving expertise. No, sir. We’re speaking in regards to the capability to know 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 mentioned that whereas Charles Leclerc is quick, he doesn’t know learn how to develop the automotive, will not be a check driver, and doesn’t contribute to the group’s development, all claims which were repeated many instances regardless of being unfounded.
However the path taken since Shanghai is so clear that it proves all that mistaken. And it’s exactly when issues come up {that a} driver’s capability involves gentle, not simply in driving, but additionally in guiding the group towards the correct 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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