Charles Leclerc would love to represent Monaco in the Olympics. Everyone knows how deep-rooted Leclerc is with his homeland. And if motorsport ever makes it to the Olympics; the Monegasque would be more than proud to represent his country. On the contrary, Max Verstappen thinks otherwise. Speaking his mind during FIA’s press conference ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix, Leclerc shared his experience as Monaco’s torchbearer.

“It was a huge honor to carry the Olympic torch in Monaco, a very special moment,” Leclerc proudly stated. When asked about F1’s inclusion in the Olympics, he explained, “I think it’s a bit more difficult to organize than other sports because obviously, we are all driving for different constructors with different cars in Formula 1, but it is possible.” Furthermore, Charles Leclerc noted feeling proud about his Monaco origin. “But I don’t know if there are any plans of that any time soon,”  the Monegasque added.

However, when Anti TV asked Max Verstappen the same question, he had an entirely different thought process. Unlike Leclerc, who wanted to participate in the Olympics, Verstappen preferred to watch the games on TV. “No, it’s not for me. It’s too much just car related,” stated the three-time World Champion. He believes drivers haven’t grown up in an ‘Olympic environment’, and organizing F1 races would be logistically taxing. Above all, Verstappen added, “I don’t think we belong at the Olympic stage. And that’s fine because we have our own championship, you know, which I think is really well received.”

While Verstappen’s opinions are valid, Leclerc’s emotional connection to his country and desire to do more for it also makes his take justified. But now the real question is, whether motorsport will ever make it to the Olympics.

The 2023 Olympic Charter ruling would please Max Verstappen

Although Charles Leclerc‘s eyes seem to sparkle with F1’s prospect in the Olympics, his dream almost came true in 2023. Unfortunately, technical protocols came in the way. After Paris 2024, Los Angeles will host the 2028 Olympic Games. Motorsports were considered for inclusion in the list of new sports but ultimately did not make the final cut, with the decision followed by the reiteration of Rule 47.4.2 of the Olympic Charter.

The statement declared: “The Olympics will not accept sports or disciplines that depend on mechanical propulsion for performance.” Hence, there was no way to move ahead without a breach of rules. And as of now, F1 and motorsport in general are out of the Olympics scenario for the unforeseen future. So, the 2023 Olympics Charter’s rules sit well with Max Verstappen’s desire to not compete in the Olympics. As for Charles Leclerc, he won’t get his opportunity to race for Monaco in the same, implying that he can focus on the F1 Championship just like Verstappen.

At the moment, this debate over whether motorsport should be part of the Olympics remains unsettled. While Leclerc desires to represent Monaco at the Olympics, Verstappen has preferred to concentrate on Formula 1, believing that motorsports does not belong in the event. With the sport ruled out from future games by the 2023 Olympic Charter, the current dynamics also highlighted the distinct aspirations of Verstappen and Leclerc. What do you think about F1’s inclusion in the Olympics? Let us know in the comments.