Charles Leclerc doesn’t believe in a Max Verstappen again champion

Charles Leclerc is experiencing one of the most difficult seasons in his now long tenure at Ferrari that began in 2019. The Monegasque driver has yet to win his first race of the season, taking into account that in general it is the Cavallino team that is currently all’dry. In contrast, Max Verstappen is experiencing weeks of newfound polish thanks to wins in Monza and Baku. According to the historic rival, however, this will not be enough to reopen a world championship currently in the hands of the McLarens of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris.

“The thing I’m sure about is that Max will do everything he can to get back into the race – said Leclerc -But in the last two Grands Prix the McLarens have had problems, I doubt that Red Bull will be able to get back to dominating like a past. Despite the tremendous work that even Verstappen is doing”.

The fact remains that Red Bull, long behind Ferrari this season, seems reborn. “They have made great strides with this year’s car,– Leclerc admitted. They are now really much closer to McLaren, and credit is also due to Verstappen for everything he has done”. Which, however, according to the Monegasque, may not prove to be enough.

After the Azerbaijan Grand Prix victory, which came in conjunction with Piastri’s retirement and Norris’s dull seventh-place finish, Verstappen moved back to 69 points behind the current drivers’ championship leader in the standings. That remains McLaren’s Australian, in a scenario that looks very difficult to subvert. And Leclerc, after all, thinks so too.