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 totally different tales, which clearly emerge while you have a look at their résumés. Max Verstappen has gained 4 Components 1 world championships, the Monegasque has none. A incontrovertible fact that makes you suppose, however solely up to some extent, as a result of with out the correct automobile and a united staff behind you, it’s arduous to win.
But, the Dutchman managed to do it final season, bringing residence an outstanding Components 1 world title. He had a fantastic automobile at the beginning of the 2025 F1 season, however then, from Miami onwards, the prevalence of the MCL38 single-seater began to make an impression. 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 benefit, particularly evident in some circumstances, like in Brazil, the place he began seventeenth and completed first, three parts helped him so much. First, Crimson Bull. A staff 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 Components 1.
The opposite benefit considerations McLaren’s incapacity to capitalize. The Woking staff threw away a ton of factors and, above all, determined to guess on the unsuitable driver. Oscar Piastri’s begin to this 2025 Components 1 season confirms it. The final level, and never a minor one, is Ferrari’s return to competitiveness from Monza onwards. The Maranello staff’s drivers have been in a position to combat for race victories and due to this fact 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? Most likely sure. The one yr the place he had a automobile able to combating, for some time, was 2022. In that championship, for a couple of third of the Components 1 season, apart from reliability points, the Monegasque driver was driving a robust automobile. Most likely, a number of extra factors may have been earned that yr.
Nonetheless, it should be stated that the regression suffered by the F1-75 was so drastic that profitable with it grew to become nearly unimaginable. 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, a minimum of from our perspective, it stays fairly troublesome to make a definitive judgment. All that apart, Max Verstappen stays a rare Components 1 phenomenon.
The actual purpose 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 may 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 Components 1 marketing campaign.
However there may be one other high quality that many, mistakenly, have hardly ever attributed to him lately. We’re speaking about his technical potential to develop the automobile with the staff and steer the course 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 know the best way to optimize its efficiency together with his driving model. And we aren’t simply speaking about uncooked driving expertise. No, sir. We’re speaking concerning the potential to know 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 the best way to develop the automobile, just isn’t a check driver, and doesn’t contribute to the staff’s development, all claims which have been repeated many occasions regardless of being unfounded.
However the course taken since Shanghai is so clear that it proves all that unsuitable. And it’s exactly when issues come up {that a} driver’s potential involves gentle, not simply in driving, but additionally in guiding the staff 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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