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 once you have a look at their résumés. Max Verstappen has gained 4 Formulation 1 world championships, the Monegasque has none. A incontrovertible fact that makes you assume, however solely up to a degree, as a result of with out the appropriate automotive and a united crew behind you, it’s exhausting to win.
But, the Dutchman managed to do it final season, bringing dwelling an outstanding Formulation 1 world title. He had an awesome 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 similar time, Crimson Bull went right into a technical hunch, 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 circumstances, like in Brazil, the place he began seventeenth and completed first, three components helped him quite a bit. First, Crimson Bull. A crew 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 issues McLaren’s incapability to capitalize. The Woking crew threw away a ton of factors and, above all, determined to guess on the flawed 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 crew’s drivers have been capable of struggle for race victories and due to this fact 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 12 months the place he had a automotive able to preventing, for some time, was 2022. In that championship, for a few third of the Formulation 1 season, apart from reliability points, the Monegasque driver was driving a robust automotive. In all probability, a couple of extra factors might have been earned that 12 months.
Nevertheless, it have to be mentioned that the regression suffered by the F1-75 was so drastic that profitable with it turned virtually inconceivable. Would Max Verstappen have achieved higher in his place? Who is aware of… it’s potential. The very fact stays that these are all simply opinions. That’s exactly why, contemplating this brief abstract, a minimum of from our perspective, it stays fairly troublesome to make a definitive judgment. All that apart, Max Verstappen stays a rare Formulation 1 phenomenon.
The actual goal of this text was to not decide who’s the higher driver. Undoubtedly, 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 in all 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 may be one other high quality that many, mistakenly, have not often attributed to him lately. We’re speaking about his technical potential to develop the automotive with the crew and steer the path 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 can be completely misplaced? Completely sure.
Up by means of the Chinese language Grand Prix, the Monegasque driver studied the Ferrari to grasp optimize its efficiency along with his driving fashion. And we aren’t simply speaking about uncooked driving expertise. No, sir. We’re speaking in regards to the potential 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 mentioned that whereas Charles Leclerc is quick, he doesn’t know develop the automotive, just isn’t a take a look at driver, and doesn’t contribute to the crew’s progress, all claims which have been repeated many occasions regardless of being unfounded.
However the path taken since Shanghai is so clear that it proves all that flawed. And it’s exactly when issues come up {that a} driver’s potential involves mild, not simply in driving, but additionally in guiding the crew 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.
— see video above —
Purchase official Ferrari F1 merchandise!
Let different Scuderia Followers find out about us
