Charles Leclerc Laughs Off Tensions With Championship Leader Max Verstappen but Forewarns Lewis Hamilton-Like Rivalry Should Tables Turn

Charles Leclerc might be 80 points away from Max Verstappen in the Drivers championship, but that is not going to dampen his fight and spirit.

The Monegasque driver still believes he can win the Championship with Ferrari. Fortunately for him, the next race is in Spa where he won his maiden F1 race 3 years ago. If he is to mount a title fight this season, he’ll be hoping for a repeat of 2019 where he excellently held off Lewis Hamilton to take the win.

However, Charles will start from the back off the grid due to an engine change penalty. Alongside him, Title favorite Max Verstappen is also reported to join Leclerc in the back row and use a new engine – his fourth of the season.

Leclerc is not giving up on the championship. He said, “There isn’t a day when you don’t think about becoming world champion with Ferrari,”

“My mentality hasn’t changed, I always give everything. I believe in it because we have a car capable of winning anywhere, it’s up to us to get the most out of it”

When asked about Verstappen and his comment where he said it was better for him to fight Leclerc than Hamilton, The Ferrari driver cheekily laughed and replied, “I like to face Max, we have a similar level of aggression. We have fun, with respect. I’m not saying that last year there was no respect between Max and Lewis, but it seemed like a different duel than ours”

READ MORE: Lewis Hamilton Fires Warning at F1 Frontrunners Max Verstappen & Charles Leclerc With Latest Battlecry

When asked about which quality would he steal from Verstappen, he confidently replied, “None. I am focused on myself”

Charles Leclerc reflects at the mixed season so far

After a superb start to the season winning 2 of the first 3 races, Leclerc has endured a difficult period after that. Tactical mishaps, Power unit failures, and sometimes his own mistakes have cost him points.

The 24-year-old driver has stated that Bahrain was his favorite win of the season. “It was not a surprise but a liberation” says Charles. Similarly, the worst race so far for him was unsurprisingly his jinxed home race. “It’s hard to accept starting from pole and finishing fourth”

While he believes he needs to improve “on the details, to be even more complete,” he expects Ferrari “to grow, examine the things that are wrong and overcome them.”

The Ferrari ace also feels team principal Mattia Binotto is “very calm” and his “coldness of mind is of great help” during difficult moments.

WATCH THIS STORY: Not Max Verstappen or Charles Leclerc: Red Bull Chief Picks This F1 Driver for ‘Surprise of the Year’ 

Ferrari might not be in the strongest of positions right now, but they will believe that they can still catch table toppers Red Bull and give them a close fight for the title. Charles Leclerc will be a catalyst in that fight along with his teammate Carlos Sainz.

Do you think the Italian giants can cover the gap between them and Red Bull?