Leclerc: Verstappen โOutperforming McLaren inโข titleโ Fight
BAKU, azerbaijan – Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc believes Max Verstappen isโข currently exceeding the performance level of McLaren’s Oscar โคpiastriโ in โthe Formula 1 Worldโ Championship battle. Despite Red Bull’s recent โstruggles, includingโฃ aโค difficult Hungarian Grand Prix, Verstappen has secured victories in โขMonza and โBaku, โคcapitalizing onโข McLaren’sโฃ recent โsetbacks.
Leclerc’s assessmentโ comes as โVerstappen trailsโค championship leader Piastriโค byโ 69 pointsโข (255 to 324) wiht several races remaining. The โฃFerrariโ driver acknowledged Red Bull’s improvements, stating to Motorsport.com, “I don’t think Max โwill leave something, that is certain. I thinkโค they have taken a โขbig stepโ forwardโข with the car and โขthat they โขare now โฃalso at aโค very strong โlevel.” Thisโข statement underscoresโค theโ intensifying competition atโ the topโข of the standingsโข and the pressure on Piastri to maintain his lead.
While recognizing McLarenโข as โa formidable opponent,โฃ Leclerc highlighted Verstappen’s current โedge.โ “McLarenโ has not had a very flexible weekend here, not theโข last two racing weekends, so I don’t โthink Red Bullโ is suddenly dominating โคagain,” he explained. “I think it is very โคclose together between McLaren and Red Bull, but Max is doing a little better at the moment.”
The โคarrival of new Red Bull team boss Laurent Mekies is expected to further bolster the team’s performanceโ asโ the season progresses. The championshipโฃ outcome remains uncertain,โฃ but Leclerc’s comments suggest Verstappenโ is โpoised to mount a serious challenge to Piastri’s โขlead.