Could Leclerc v Verstappen eclipse F1’s 2021 title fight?

Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen have put on quite the show at the dawn of Formula 1’s new era, which is already teasing the prospect of another classic title battle. 

It follows one of the most remarkable F1 seasons in recent history and the spectacular rivalry between Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton last year, which the Red Bull driver emerged victorious from to clinch his maiden drivers’ crown in the controversial Abu Dhabi finale. 

Following such an act was always going to be hard, but after some close and exciting fights across the first two rounds of the new campaign, our writers ponder whether the 2022 title fight could prove to be an even better spectacle…

• 24 races in 2023? How Las Vegas’ inclusion will impact F1 calendar
• How long will Mercedes and Hamilton's F1 2022 misery last?
• Why the drivers are adamant F1 still needs DRS after Saudi Arabian GP

All the hallmarks of an epic rivalry

If the opening two races of the season is a sign of what is to come in 2022, then we are going to be in for quite a year. 

Early championship leader Leclerc and Verstappen are separated by 20 points after taking one win apiece in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. 

In both races we have been treated to a gripping duel for victory, with the pair crossing swords in breathless wheel-to-wheel battles. Leclerc came out on top of a fantastic fight in Bahrain, while in Saudi Arabia, it was Verstappen who claimed the bragging rights after a thrilling and tense game of DRS cat-and-mouse. 

Verstappen and Hamilton’s epic tussle in 2021 was dubbed as a once-in-a-generation F1 title fight, but could we be seeing the start of another legendary rivalry emerge? 

The two 24-year-olds, who are the leading stars of F1’s new generation of drivers, have history, with their on-track squabbles dating all the way back to their karting days. 

Back in 2012, they weren’t fighting for F1 titles, but they were racing each other just as hard in the WSK Euro Series. A collision at the second round led to the now famous footage of a young Verstappen and Leclerc reacting to their clash. 

“He’s just unfair,” said a then 14-year-old Verstappen. “I’m leading, he wants to pass, and he pushed me. I push him back, and after he pushes me off the track. It’s not fair.”

Asked what had happened with Verstappen, Leclerc replied: “Nothing, just an incident on the race.” 

There is a clear underlying respect between Verstappen and Leclerc and for now, the racing has remained pure and clean. 

Can they keep it that way as the season and title fight intensifies? 

Lewis Larkam

New rules have changed the dynamic  

F1 fans are too quick to say ‘Lewis Hamilton was the problem’ or ‘Max Verstappen has changed how he races’ after the opening two grands prix of the season.

Simply put, F1’s new regulations have drastically changed the dynamic of how drivers have raced so far in 2022.

In Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, we’ve already seen the benefits of the new regulations with cars following more easily and the drag reduction system being more effective. 

As a result, conceding the position or lead of the race has fewer drawbacks as opposed to 12 months ago as re-overtaking is very possible. 

Verstappen and Leclerc exchanged the lead on countless occasions in the opening two rounds of the season, something that would have been difficult to imagine 12 months ago.

Typically, track position had a significant advantage in 2021 due to the dirty air and tyres overheating, so it was no surprise to see Verstappen’s approach versus Hamilton to be of an aggressive nature.

His defending at the back-end of the season was over the mark but given that it would have been impossible to re-overtake Hamilton given Mercedes’ superior straight-line speed, his all-or-nothing defensive manoeuvres were logical as it was the only way he could potentially beat the seven-time champion.

Verstappen's style has naturally changed due to how F1's new era of cars race each other, rather than it being against Leclerc, not Hamilton.

Granted, he has more 'respect' for Leclerc given their history in karting and the pair being of similar ages, but F1's new regulations (and maybe Red Bull's Mercedes-like top-speed advantage) should mean there will be less chance of fireworks.

But let's see later on in the season when the title is up for grabs.

Connor McDonagh