To reach the epitome of motorsport, drivers often look towards money as the major resource. Although, drivers cannot conquer F1 only by having good finances. The support of your family and your loved ones is invaluable. That’s what Charles Leclerc once revealed about his father’s contribution to his career. But there is a stark contrast that Leclerc’s dad shares with his rival Max Verstappen‘s old man.

Appearing on the F1 Beyond the Grid podcast in 2018, Leclerc spoke about how his father used to be involved in his racing career. He said, “He was extremely discreet. In a way where he will never come in when I am working with my engineers. He will kind of give me a bit of the autonomy that a driver needs. And that has helped me massively for the future also.”

Contrasting this to his rival Max and his father Jos Verstappen; we have often seen the latter being a constant presence with the Dutchman. While it cannot be said that Jos may have unsettled Max’s dynamic with his team; it becomes an additional aspect to deal with for the team.

Charles further added to his rosy relationship with his father. He stated how his dad analyzed things from the sidelines and came in at the right time to him.

Leclerc said, “When I finished working, he will come in and suggest some things. But he was not coming in the middle of the team and being a mess if I didn’t do a good job so.” Unfortunately, Leclerc lost his father midway through his title-winning F2 season in 2017.

Read More: Despite Crushing Title Defeat, Philosophical Charles Leclerc Takes a Dub From the 2022 Season

Still, looking at both Leclerc and Verstappen, there are contrasts in them as drivers too. Few can know if these contrasts come from how their fathers groomed them differently. Yet, two youngsters have made it big in F1 and look like will be ruling the sport in the coming years.

Have we entered the Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen Era in 2022?

While Max Verstappen claimed his maiden title in 2021, he had a fresh rival this season. Charles Leclerc looked like the real threat as he was at the top of his game 3 races into 2022. While his title fight collapsed through the year, Leclerc gave us a glimpse of what might be the battle for years with Verstappen.

The duo had some classic battles whenever they raced for the win in 2022. Overtaking galore, it was an awesome sight to watch, and fans watched the full trailer after a teaser of this battle in Austria in 2019. But the question now persists. Will we see a blockbuster film of this tussle between Leclerc and Verstappen?

If Ferrari can provide Leclerc with a faster, reliable car; there is the possibility that the Monegasque catches up with Max. A full-season title fight might be on the cards in 2023, which went down the drain this year. While it is still a what-if; Leclerc can deliver when needed, eliminating his errors and maximizing the Scarlet Ferrari’s potential.

Red Bull and Ferrari have been the two quickest teams in this new era of F1. So, if they can sustain their top performance; there is little doubt that Charles and Max battling for the championship every season in this era.

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In about 2 months’ time, we shall get to know whether Leclerc and Verstappen can provide us with a nail-biting fight or not. For now, Leclerc and Ferrari will be looking to bridge the gap between Verstappen and Red Bull, performance-wise. Do you think we have entered the Leclerc-Verstappen era? Or do you expect other drivers to make a mark as well?