Charles Leclerc has recently addressed his past perception of Max Verstappen, stating he once believed the Dutchman was a ‘bad person’ during their formative karting years. This sentiment stemmed from the intense on-track clashes that characterised their early racing careers.
The Ferrari driver explained that the fierce competition and incidents on track led to this conviction, a feeling he noted was mutual between them. Leclerc highlighted that emotions ran high when they were younger, making it difficult to separate the rival from the individual.
Their rivalry began in karting, where both drivers were known for their aggressive and uncompromising styles. Incidents such as a heated exchange at the 2011 KF3 World Cup and a clash during a KF2 race at Val d’Argenton fueled their animosity.
Leclerc has since clarified that their relationship has matured significantly with age and experience. He acknowledged that while friendship is absent when competing on track, their understanding of each other off-track has evolved.
The Monegasque driver, who signed a new multi-year contract with Ferrari in June 2026, is currently third in the 2026 drivers’ championship standings after five rounds. He continues to race alongside Lewis Hamilton at the Scuderia.
Verstappen, a four-time world champion, remains under contract with Red Bull until 2028. However, speculation persists regarding his future beyond the current season.
An exit clause in Verstappen’s contract could be triggered if he does not rank within the top two in the standings by the summer break. He is currently seventh in the 2026 championship.
Despite these contractual discussions, Verstappen has declined to commit to Red Bull beyond 2026, with rumors linking him to McLaren. His manager, Raymond Vermeulen, has indicated Verstappen intends to fulfill his current Red Bull agreement.
Leclerc has also commented on the prospect of Verstappen potentially joining him at Ferrari in the future. He stated he would not be intimidated by such a move, describing Verstappen as an ‘exceptional driver’.
‘When you are young, you experience everything at a thousand miles an hour. Because of what happened on track, I was convinced that he was a bad person, and he thought the same about me,’ Charles Leclerc stated. ‘As you grow older, you understand that people are different away from what happens on the track, so our relationship has changed.’
Leclerc believes that having Verstappen as a teammate would create a compelling narrative, given their extensive history together since their karting days.
