Leclerc Praises Verstappen's Edge for F1 Excitement

Leclerc: Verstappen’s Aggression Brings Thrill to F1

25/10/2024

Charles Leclerc lauds Max Verstappen’s boundary-pushing style, adding intensity to F1 duels and enhancing the sport’s thrilling appeal.

Charles Leclerc stated that Max Verstappen being “on the edge of the regulations” is what makes battles with the Red Bull driver “so exciting.”

Verstappen’s wheel-to-wheel behavior sparked heated debate following the United States Grand Prix.

The three-time F1 world champion avoided a penalty for his first-lap move on Lando Norris in Austin. Moreover, it was Norris who received the penalty for their clash at Turn 12 late in the race, even though both drivers went off track.

Verstappen, however, has been praised for his ability to race right at the regulatory limit.

In Thursday’s FIA press conference in Mexico, Leclerc was asked about his battles with Verstappen.

“I mean, Max has always been on the edge of the regulations. I don’t think that’s a surprise to anyone. That’s what makes racing against Max so exciting, and it’s also why I really enjoy these battles with him; you know he’ll never leave you any space, and it’ll always be right at the regulatory limit.”

“That’s what makes these battles so exciting for me.”

However, Leclerc isn’t entirely pleased with how the FIA stewards have judged certain incidents, mentioning Oscar Piastri’s penalty in the sprint race for his move on Pierre Gasly.

“That said, I feel there are a few little things I saw in Austin that we may need to discuss with the FIA because I feel some penalties were a bit too harsh at times.”

“We need to make sure we’re all aligned – the FIA and us, the drivers – to ensure clarity on what we can and cannot do. When I say that, it’s mostly due to Oscar’s overtake on Saturday, which, in my opinion, didn’t really deserve a penalty.”

“It’s an ongoing process that we’re trying to optimize with the FIA, and we’ll certainly discuss it at this briefing. Coming back to Max, he’s always at the edge of the rules. Sometimes it goes a little beyond, but that’s what makes Formula 1 exciting.”

Leclerc Praises Verstappen’s Edge for F1 Excitement Leclerc Praises Verstappen’s Edge for F1 Excitement

F1 Standings 2025
F1 Standings 2025
#
Driver
Points
1
Driver Flag
Max Verstappen
Red Bull
0
2
Driver Flag
Lando Norris
McLaren
0
3
Driver Flag
Charles Leclerc
Ferrari
0
4
Driver Flag
Oscar Piastri
McLaren
0
5
Driver Flag
Carlos Sainz
Williams
0
6
Driver Flag
George Russell
Mercedes
0
#
Team
Points
1
McLaren
Norris & Piastri
0
2
Ferrari
Leclerc & Hamilton
0
3
Red Bull
Verstappen & Lawson
0
4
Mercedes
Russell & Antonelli
0
5
Aston Martin
Alonso & Stroll
0
6
Alpine
Gasly & Doohan
0
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6 Apr
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13 Apr
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Jeddah Street
20 Apr
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