Canadian Grand Prix | Leclerc against Verstappen: the fight that is no longer one

Lewis Hamilton was expected against Max Verstappen this season. Then Verstappen against Charles Leclerc. Here we are rather at the heart of a fratricidal duel at Red Bull between Verstappen and Sergio Pérez.

Katherine Harvey Pinard
The Press

Last weekend, Charles Leclerc had to retire when smoke billowed from his engine at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. It was his second retirement in three races, a blow in his title chase.

But Leclerc and his Ferrari will want to bounce back quickly in Montreal in front of an audience conquered since Gilles Villeneuve. Perhaps to deliver a message: the future of Formula 1 does indeed pass through Leclerc and Verstappen. The shock will wait, but will eventually come.

On one side, the reigning world champion, Verstappen. A 24-year-old Dutchman who has developed at lightning speed since entering the circuit at the age of 18. He already has 66 podiums in 149 Grands Prix. Raised in Formula 1 with his father Jos, who moved from the Toro Rosso development team to Red Bull in 2017.

On the other, a 24-year-old Monegasque who had only 13 podiums in 81 races at the start of the season, but who was expected to reach the top one day or another. A driver who finally enjoys a high-performance car after two difficult years. A charismatic athlete who can finally show the extent of his talent.

The new generation. Verstappen has 150 points, Leclerc has 116.

The portrait can change quickly in Formula 1. It is also the Ferrari driver who had the lead until two weeks ago.

Leclerc started the season strong by winning the first Grand Prix in Bahrain. Verstappen, chasing him all the way, had to retire three laps from the end due to various problems with his car.

Seven days later, it was he who won his first triumph of the season after playing cat and mouse with Leclerc in the final laps on the fast circuit of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Red Bull thus launched its season.

The two rivals showed up in Melbourne, Australia, each with a win on the clock. And it was Leclerc, dominant, who had the last word. He also became the first Ferrari driver since Fernando Alonso in 2010 to achieve the Grand Slam (first in qualifying, first in the race and fastest lap) in a car race. Verstappen, again the victim of a mechanical failure, had to retire at 39^e lap when he had been in second place until then.

Verstappen’s triumphs

The next three Grands Prix were Verstappen’s story. The Dutchman completely dominated the Emilia-Romagna race, as Leclerc, guilty of an error, was relegated to sixth. Verstappen then rode a clear round in the blistering heat of Miami to claim the first Florida Grand Prix in F1 history. In front of Leclerc.

This same Leclerc, affected by a mechanical problem, withdrew at 27^e tour in Spain. His rival took the opportunity to take his third victory in a row and take first place in the drivers’ championship.

The action then moved to Monaco, home of Leclerc. For the first time this season, neither the Monegasque nor the Dutchman was the first to cross the finish line. It was instead the other Red Bull driver, Sergio Pérez, who got his hands on his third career win and invited himself into the title race.

The Ferrari team made a huge mistake at the 22^e turn by asking Leclerc, then first, to enter the pits when Carlos Sainz Jr. was already there. The Monegasque, furious, had to settle for fourth place, just behind Verstappen.

The Azerbaijan Grand Prix was the fatal blow: the retirement of Leclerc’s Ferrari, paired with Pérez’s second place, turned the hierarchy upside down. So here we are at the heart of an internal rivalry at Red Bull.

Perez in the race

If Pérez evolves in the shadow of Verstappen since his arrival at Red Bull, he remains an experienced driver. With one victory and five podiums this season, “Checo” elbows the leader.

“He is in the race just as much as Max,” Red Bull boss Christian Horner told Sky Sports. The difference between the two is nothing. He and Max have been much closer this year. »

Pérez signed a two-year contract extension in May. Since joining Red Bull last season, the 32-year-old has acted as an excellent teammate for his young colleague. One need only recall the last race of the 2021 season, when he slowed down Lewis Hamilton to allow Verstappen to close his gap to Mercedes.

“He is an incredible teammate,” said Verstappen after winning his first career title.

As proof, on May 22, in Spain, Pérez was leading the race when he was ordered to let Verstappen get ahead of him at 49^e round. He obeyed. But will he always be so conciliatory?