Charles Leclerc is now firmly established as one in every of Ferrari’s most vital drivers, sitting fourth on the record of all-time race begins for the enduring workforce in Method 1. With 126 race appearances below his belt, he not too long ago surpassed Sebastian Vettel and is now aiming to go Felipe Massa’s tally of 139 race begins, which he’s anticipated to attain across the center of the 2025 season. On the prime of the record is Michael Schumacher, who gained 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 Method 2.
Charles Leclerc’s rise in Method 1 was swift and spectacular, spending just one season at Sauber earlier than shifting as much as Ferrari. In his first 12 months 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 top of a difficult interval for the workforce, with Leclerc outscoring four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel by a major 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 manner 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 not too long ago claiming that Charles Leclerc, alongside Max Verstappen, is likely one of the most naturally gifted drivers in F1. At 27 years previous, the Monegasque remains to be trying to find his first World Championship title, along 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 intently monitoring his progress throughout his early years in Method 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 identical 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 contemplate him as a possible backup choice. 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. In the end, Ferrari’s resolution to advertise him to their workforce was vindicated, as Charles Leclerc has gone on to grow to be one of many workforce’s most promising skills and is now a key determine of their pursuit of a championship.
“In 2018, we had a extremely good automotive within the first half of the 12 months,” – 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 immediately Ferrari was reaching out.” – he added.
“All of the sudden I used to be driving of their simulator, not for Haas, however for Ferrari. They had been sniffing round. And I believed, okay… I used to be already getting enthusiastic about the place this was going. However then Charles began to essentially kill it! And I heard nothing. I don’t know the way shut it received. However I believe if Charles had not began to carry out, if he had had a s****y season all 12 months lengthy, I believe I’d have been one of many drivers they might have checked out. Generally you’re feeling like you might be getting shut, however nonetheless not that shut. That’s the best way it goes.” – he admitted.
Anthony Davidson has expressed a powerful need to see Kevin Magnussen go head-to-head with Max Verstappen in a future Method 1 season, acknowledging the extraordinary 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 Method 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 exceptional 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 Method 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 herald a seasoned driver to guide their cost, Magnussen might very nicely discover himself on their radar, bringing his intensive expertise and aggressive spirit to a brand new surroundings.
Anthony Davidson, a former F1 driver and present commentator, has lengthy been an admirer of Magnussen’s driving type, which he describes as aggressive and unyielding. Davidson has typically identified that Magnussen is a “powerful nut,” somebody who isn’t afraid to get entangled in wheel-to-wheel battles with among the greatest within the enterprise. In keeping with Davidson, the prospect of Magnussen going through off towards Verstappen, identified for his relentless racing and no-nonsense strategy, would create an exciting and fiery dynamic on observe. 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 group: that the game is at all times higher when its most aggressive drivers are pitted towards each other. In a world the place rivalries typically outline a season, the concept of Kevin Magnussen and Max Verstappen locking horns would undoubtedly present loads of drama and pleasure for F1 followers around the globe.
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