Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen have been duelling it out on the track for over a decade.
Prior to Formula 1, the pair were fierce competitors during their go-kart days, with a now-famous clip of Leclerc complaining that Verstappen had pushed him off track during a race at the 2012 WSK Euro Series in France.
The rivalry continued once both made it onto the F1 grid.
Indeed, at the Austrian Grand Prix in 2019, the pair clashed again, with Leclerc’s response in the days following the race leading to a change in how the Ferrari driver would race going forward.
‘I’m happy we can now race like this’ – Charles Leclerc’s response following clash with Max Verstappen
After qualifying on pole at the Red Bull Ring, Leclerc led for 69 of the 71 laps on the Sunday.
Coming under pressure from Verstappen towards the end of the race, the Monegasque driver did a superb job of keeping the Red Bull behind him on Lap 68, holding on around the outside of Verstappen at Turn 3 as he dived to Leclerc’s inside.
However, Verstappen would be more aggressive at the same corner on the next lap, bumping wheels with Leclerc as he ran the Ferrari off the track to take and keep the position.
It led to an angry reaction from Leclerc in the immediate aftermath of the race.
Speaking to the media after the podium celebrations, the 27-year-old said: “I’m angry. Feeling it from the inside [of the car], I didn’t think it was a fair move, but I still need to watch the outside video of it to understand the full situation.”
Leclerc continued: “But, for me, the first [overtake attempt], he left me a car’s width. On the second one, he didn’t.”
In the days following the clash, however, Leclerc changed his tone.
Speaking to Formula 1 before the 2019 British Grand Prix having taken time to reflect on the incident, the Ferrari driver concluded that Verstappen going unpunished was a good thing for the sport.
Leclerc said: “At that moment [of the incident], I felt it was frustrating. Looking back, I’m happy we can now race like this.”
It was here that Leclerc stated he would be changing his driving style, adding: “As drivers, we always try to be as close as the rules limit us, so I will definitely change a little bit and adjust my aggression.”
Ultimately, it was a classy and mature response that has served Leclerc well in the years since.
Charles Leclerc is a future Formula 1 World Champion, given the right machinery
There is little doubt about the talent that Leclerc possesses.
A former F2 champion, the eight-time F1 race winner has the potential to put himself into the category of one of the best Formula 1 drivers of all time.
To do this, though, he needs to win multiple World Championships.
At the moment, that appears unlikely because of the issues with Ferrari’s car.
While Leclerc has outperformed his machinery on multiple occasions, to do it across a season against the sport’s other drivers is a tough ask.
Unless Ferrari take a big step forward over the coming year or two, then, it may be time for Leclerc to consider moving elsewhere to fulfil both his talent and his dream.