Ferrari and Charles Leclerc have dominated proceedings this season. They look like the team to beat and have been living up to that billing so far. However, they have faced stiff competition from Red Bull and Max Verstappen. Although on paper the results don’t paint the full picture the Dutchman has been vying with Leclerc throughout the opening rounds of the season.

The 2 have always been tipped to be World Champions one day, right from their junior careers. With Verstappen winning in 2021, many believe this could be Leclerc’s year.

Charles Leclerc out on top against Verstappen

The first 3 races of the season see Leclerc pick up 2 wins and lead the driver’s championship. Red Bull and Max Verstappen have kept up all the way even though the results paint a contrasting picture. The Dutchman has had some major misfortune retiring in Bahrain and Australia.

Ex F1 driver Marc Gene had some glowing words for Leclerc, He said,“ He has matured and he works in a sensible way. He has taken a very big step in a year’s time.”. Talking about the Monegasque’s struggles in the 2020 season and how it shaped him.

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He went on to add, “He is ready to win races as he has shown that in other classes as well. He is used to fighting for the title and will therefore not feel any extra pressure.”

Gene also attributed Leclerc’s growth to the teammates he has had in his time in F1. He said, “Teammates like Sebastian Vettel and Carlos Sainz give something extra. Verstappen has never had that.”

Frustrating start to 2022 for Verstappen

Max Verstappen wrapped up the 2021 F1 title in Abu Dhabi. He would have hoped to continue his fine form into the new era. However, luck has not sided with him since the start of the season. The season opener in Bahrain saw him fight for the race lead before a technical issue forced him to retire.

Redemption came for the Dutchman in the second round in Jeddah where he snatched the race win from Leclerc in the closing stages of the race. However, misfortune struck again as the third round in Australia again saw him retire with mechanical problems.

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Although the RB-18 is nearly on par with the Ferrari on pace, these reliability issues have cost the team dearly so far this season. Verstappen will be hoping for better luck on his side in the coming rounds.