Max Verstappen controversially beat Lewis Hamilton to the 2021 World Championship after a season-long battle; Charles Leclerc is Verstappen’s closest rival this season; Watch Hungarian GP third practice and qualifying live on Sky Sports F1 from 11.45am on Saturday
Last update: 30/07/22 07:02
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Max Verstappen says he prefers the challenge of Charles Leclerc compared to his main rival last season Lewis Hamilton.
Max Verstappen says he prefers the challenge of Charles Leclerc compared to his main rival last season Lewis Hamilton.
Max Verstappen says he “prefers” his rivalry with Ferrari and Charles Leclerc to the World Championship battle he had with Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes last season.
Red Bull’s Verstappen emerged victorious over Hamilton after a controversial end to an intense season-long battle between them, which saw several high points both on and off the track.
With Mercedes off the pace this season, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc has emerged as the biggest threat to 24-year-old Verstappen to retain his title as the pair have engaged in several wheel-to-wheel contests over the first half of the season.
Unlike last season, there has been little or no evidence of ill-feeling between Ferrari and Red Bull, although the 63-point lead Verstappen has opened up ahead of this weekend’s Hungarian GP may it has helped dissipate the early-season tension that was building between teams and drivers.
Speaking to Sky Italy, Verstappen said: “I prefer what we have now because, first of all, Charles, I know him very well, he’s a nice guy, we’re the same age, I think we’re only three weeks apart.
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Leclerc came out on top after another dramatic battle with Verstappen in Austria.
Leclerc came out on top after another dramatic battle with Verstappen in Austria.
“I think we’re also fighting a very well-respected competitor in terms of Ferrari. The way they do our fight… when they win a race we can go to them and say well done, and when we win a race they can say well done, and I respect that very much.”
Verstappen pointed to a concrete example of the camaraderie between the Red Bull and Ferrari fields, explaining that he had had a pleasant exchange with Italian team principal Mattia Binotto at dinner on Saturday night at the French GP in last weekend
“Also, some people in the team, even Mattia, I have a very good relationship with him,” said Verstappen.
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Relive some of the most intense clashes between Hamilton and Verstappen last season.
Relive some of the most intense clashes between Hamilton and Verstappen last season.
“On Saturday night we even had a laugh at Paul Ricard, and I think that’s great because that’s what racing should be about. We’re tough competitors on the track and we’re always going to try to win, which I think is very normal. , but outside of it you can also have a good time, and that’s what I really like this year.
“Let’s put it this way, I wouldn’t be at a table on Saturday night laughing with (Mercedes).”
Asked why it was so different to the situation last year, Verstappen added: “Just the click we have at the moment with the team, and I have a lot of respect for Ferrari in general.”
Herbert ‘perplexed’ by Verstappen’s comments
Sky Sports F1’s Johnny Herbert said the way Verstappen had dismissed seven-time world champion Hamilton was “disappointing”.
“(It was) disappointing in a lot of ways,” Herbert said.
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Verstappen is able to hold off the surging Leclerc after the restart.
Verstappen is able to hold off the surging Leclerc after the restart.
“It looks like he just dismissed Lewis straight away, and then went directly to Charles and Ferrari about the battle they’re having.
“I thought I was enjoying the battle they were having on the court (last season), but obviously I wasn’t enjoying it at all.
“But I don’t understand why his comments would be so negative towards Lewis and the battle they had last year. I’m quite perplexed.”
“It’s not about Verstappen wanting to drive for Ferrari”
Sky Sports F1’s Karun Chandhok dismissed the suggestion that Verstappen’s comments could have reflected a desire to drive for Ferrari at some point in the future.
“I don’t think it’s about that,” Chandhok said. “I don’t think he’s even thinking about that. He’s just thinking about the fact that he’s having a respectful battle with his competitors, and they’re fighting hard on the track, but they respect each other off of it.
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A young Verstappen and Leclerc spar during their karting days, with the pair now forming one of the biggest rivalries of the current F1 season.
A young Verstappen and Leclerc spar during their karting days, with the pair now forming one of the biggest rivalries of the current F1 season.
“I think he’s being honest, isn’t he? Enjoy the battle this year, enjoy the battle on the court.
“It’s a different wheel-to-wheel race with Charles as it was with Lewis. As he rightly said, he and Charles have known each other for a long time, they’ve grown up together, they’re of the same generation.
“Honestly, it’s his personal feeling. We’re not all friends with the whole world. You get along with certain people, you have a relationship and a bond with certain people, and you build mutual respect from friendship with certain people.
“I don’t think it’s wrong that he’s more friends with Ferrari people or Charles than with Lewis or Mercedes people. That’s just their personalities and their characters.”