Charles Leclerc received a shower of compliments from Max Verstappen after the race weekend in Monza. The Dutchman was asked by the Spanish press about his favorite drivers on the grid. He named his Ferrari rival as the best qualifier and the best overtaker. Leclerc is grateful for the mutual respect with Verstappen, although he hopes to truly prove himself alongside the four-time world champion someday.
In a conversation with Mundo Deportivo, Max Verstappen was asked about the best qualifier on the grid. “Wow, that’s tough,” responded the Red Bull driver. “I’ve always considered Charles Leclerc to be a very good driver in qualifying.” When later asked about the best overtaker, he again chose the Monegasque. The Italian branch of Sky Sports confronted Charles Leclerc with Verstappen’s comments.
“There’s a lot of mutual respect,” said Leclerc with a smile. “We grew up together, we’ve been fighting against each other for years. Unfortunately, we haven’t really been able to do that in Formula 1. I hope that will be the case someday.” Verstappen has fought title battles with Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris, but has never really had to take on Leclerc. The eight-time race winner has lacked competitiveness in recent years. That might change by 2026.
