Ferrari man Charles Leclerc has hinted his new found rivalry with Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen could well go up a notch, with the Monacan open to ‘taking more risks’ on the track. Leclerc looked as if he was going to be the man to catch after a quick start to the 2022 season.
But he and his team have struggled over recent weeks, with the reliability of the Ferrari car being heavily criticised. And this has come at a cost, as the one time leader now sits 80 points behind defending champion Verstappen who sits in top spot.
The Dutch star is beginning to pull away from the rest of the pack as he eyes a second world title in as many years, following his dramatic win in 2021.
Verstappen’s battle with Hamilton last campaign was a much closer affair, with the pair going head-to-head until the very last lap of the year resulting in many a clash on the track. With time slipping away for Leclerc, it seems the Ferrari man is keen to create a fierce rivalry of his own with the Dutchman to keep himself in the title hunt.
He told the BBC : "It [the way you race] depends on the situation, on the person you’re facing, your opponent - how far is he willing to go? So, I feel like the championship of last year [between Lewis Hamilton and Verstappen] was probably much more prone to see these type of things because it was so close until the very end.
“I would have expected us to be much more like this if the championship will be extremely close towards the end. [If] it’s not finished, then we might see that at the end of the year."
Whether Leclerc fights back and comes away with the title or not, it has most definitely been a hugely improved season for the 24-year-old after a seventh place finish in 2021. Asked if he felt that this improvement has been down to competing for the title, he responded: “I used to say no, but I think it is.
"I think part of it is because when you know you have the car to fight for a world title, then you try to cure all the details. But then I will keep this level of preparation for all the next years because I felt the benefits, when I didn't know the benefits before. So whether I'm fighting for the championship or not next year, this will be the new standard for me."
