How the rivalry between Leclerc and Verstappen erupted in 2019

How the rivalry between Leclerc and Verstappen erupted in 2019

As Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc wheeled the wheel on the Bahrain Grand Prix, was there greater than meets the attention? Anthony Davidson explains what led to the thrilling battle; Watch the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix stay on Sky Sports activities F1 this weekend

Final replace: 03/23/22 1:17 PM

Hop on board with Charles Leclerc getting on the wheel with Max Verstappen to secure victory in the Bahrain GP

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Hop on board with Charles Leclerc getting on the wheel with Max Verstappen to safe victory within the Bahrain GP

Hop on board with Charles Leclerc getting on the wheel with Max Verstappen to safe victory within the Bahrain GP

Charles Leclerc “by no means forgave” Max Verstappen for denying him a race win in 2019, and the 2 drivers are set to have an “attention-grabbing” competitors in 2023, based on Sky Sports activities F1 analyst Anthony Davidson.

Ferrari’s Leclerc engaged in an exhilarating battle with world champion Verstappen en path to victory within the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday.

Verstappen overtook the Monegasque driver 3 times at Flip One, however used DRS at Flip 4 to place himself again on prime of the race, placing Ferrari again one to 2 together with his teammate, Carlos Sainz.

Though they’ve raced one another since their karting days, Davidson believes the competitors was fully infected by an notorious incident from the 2019 Styria Grand Prix when Crimson Bull driver Leclerc was pressured off the monitor.

He mentioned: “I really feel like this goes again to 2019 once they have been in Austria on the Styria Grand Prix and Max was chasing Charles on the finish of the race.

Look at the infamous moment in 2019 when Max Verstappen forced Charles Leclerc off the track in Austria

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Have a look at the notorious second in 2019 when Max Verstappen pressured Charles Leclerc off the monitor in Austria

Have a look at the notorious second in 2019 when Max Verstappen pressured Charles Leclerc off the monitor in Austria

“With two or three laps remaining, it is [Max] He went on the third hair flip, and did not make it regular the primary time as a result of he did not actually put strain on Charles and gave him area exterior and Charles got here again and that was all honest.

“The following lap, nonetheless, he pushed him off the monitor and I do not assume Charles has forgiven him for that.

“I feel Charles, each time he is with Max now, he treats him otherwise and that is what I say immediately to play in Bahrain.

“Max goes to must rethink the best way he is racing, I feel going from right here. It will be enjoyable.”

Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc take the wheel at the Bahrain Grand Prix

Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc take the wheel on the Bahrain Grand Prix

After delivering probably the most thrilling moments on the Bahrain Grand Prix, Verstappen was pressured to retire as a consequence of reliability points, with teammate Sergio Perez struggling the identical destiny on the final lap of the race.

This dramatic case for Crimson Bull gave Lewis Hamilton a stunning place on the rostrum, and his teammate George Russell got here residence in fourth.

Nevertheless, Davidson thinks we might see a really completely different consequence on the Saudi Grand Prix, with Crimson Bull returning to the podiums.

Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc battle for the lead in the Bahrain Grand Prix

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Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc battle for the lead within the Bahrain Grand Prix

Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc battle for the lead within the Bahrain Grand Prix

“It was heartbreaking, no person needs to be that driver, or when you’re a fan of that driver, to see them come out in this type of vogue so late within the race that it dampened numerous the motion as effectively from a fan standpoint.

“It is a bitter blow, particularly within the first race of the season, not just for Max however for Crimson Bull as effectively and clearly he wasn’t alone however Perez was additionally on the final lap the place his automotive broke down and flipped him out of competition and so they have been out of the race one flip, however they bought a automotive Fast and that’s the most vital factor.

“It’s a lot simpler to make a quick, dependable automotive than it’s to make a quick dependable automotive.

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“Jeddah is a really fast-flowing and clean monitor and I’d naturally anticipate a tremor within the rankings.

“Perhaps Mercedes will likely be a bit bit nearer to the entrance of the competitors, for instance, they may be capable of get their automotive on the bottom which is like their Achilles heel.

“Perhaps Crimson Bull would be the finest automotive in Jeddah and Ferrari will likely be a bit behind.”

The System 1 season continues on Friday on Sky Sports activities F1 with the Saudi Arabia Prize. Sunday’s race begins at 6pm. Discover out extra and subscribe.