Verstappen’s manager: “Leclerc has the same talent as Max”

Charles Leclerc made two big driving mistakes that year – missing out on the podium at Imola and possibly winning at Paul Ricard – as his Formula 1 title fight with Max Verstappen was at “boiling point”. Despite the controversy sparked by those mistakes, the Monegasque has what it takes to become F1 world champion, says the Dutchman’s manager Raymond Vermeulen.

Verstappen won the second straight championship of his F1 career ten days ago in Japan, but from late July the sharp decline in the Ferrari F1-75’s competitiveness and some scintillating performances from the Dutchman made this development standard procedure – allowing Max to extend his winning tally comfortably increase to 12 in a total of 18 races this year.

Verstappen’s title win at Suzuka came after Leclerc’s third mistake of the year, in the last corner and under pressure from Sergio Perez, but it was now clear the Scuderia driver had no hopes of winning the title.

Despite this, Vermeulen believes Leclerc has what it takes to be a future champion, attributing the mistakes and retirements from the Monaco circuit to the Ferrari F1-75’s stability issues: “A lot of the mistakes made by both Ferrari drivers are because the rear (of the F1-75) seems a bit unstable and that makes it a bit unpredictable.” said Vermeulen.

“And then when you’re a little behind (in the overall standings) you push that one or two percent more and you’re driving closer to the limit, so it’s easy to make a mistake. It’s easy to point the finger but I think with the right equipment Charles is undoubtedly a future world champion too if he gets the car he needs to do it.” continued Verstappen’s manager.

Vermeulen reckons the only thing separating Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc at the top of F1 is their different cars: “I think Charles has that same talent. Some of the laps he’s put on some pole positions this year have been just incredible. But I think he also has the racing ability and the skill – but when you race more tire wear have, that’s it.” As a driver you don’t have much to do.

You can be like Sergio Perez who is one of the best saversa tyre, although I think they are all so good in that regard. At the end of the day you need a car that can last an hour and a half and Charles didn’t have that in most races this year.”closed Vermeulen.

In addition to the Dutchman, Emerson Fittipaldi also commented on Charles Leclerc. However, the legend and former two-time F1 champion (1972 with Lotus and ’74 with McLaren) said it wasn’t the clumsy Ferrari F1-75 that caused Leclerc’s driving mistakes that year, but the “terrible pressure” that on his shoulders to conquer the driver’s title for the Scuderia again after a decade and a half.