Charles Leclerc has his sights set on the World Championship title.
The 2025 season presents a significant opportunity for Charles Leclerc to clinch a Drivers’ Championship title, and the Ferrari driver is fully committed to this goal. The Monegasque competitor has communicated to his opponents that he intends to adopt the same assertive strategies utilized by Max Verstappen in 2024.
Verstappen’s approach to racing was frequently discussed throughout the previous season. The Dutch driver demonstrated his highly aggressive tactics in 2021 during his rivalry with Lewis Hamilton, particularly as Lando Norris began to intensify the competition for the championship.
In Austria and Mexico City, the Brit put up a fierce fight against Verstappen, going to great lengths to prevent his competitor from scoring points on the track. This intense strategy ultimately resulted in Norris receiving a contentious penalty in Austin, and these small but significant efforts played a crucial role in clinching the title with two races remaining.
Verstappen’s tactics stirred up quite a bit of debate. His team praised his boldness and dedication, seeing it as a hallmark of a true champion. However, others, including Norris and George Russell, criticized his driving style, with Russell notably expressing his disapproval of Verstappen’s aggressive maneuvers during a memorable interview in Abu Dhabi.
Leclerc expressed that he finds Verstappen’s strategies to be justifiable and is open to emulating them in 2025. “It is essential to choose your battles wisely, and I believe Max has a remarkable ability to adjust to various circumstances, as we witnessed in 2024,” the Ferrari driver remarked to RacingNews365.
“There were instances when he displayed restraint, yet as the season drew to a close and Lando was gaining momentum, it became evident that he was more willing to navigate the regulations strategically. I believe I possess that capability as well.”
I understand that when significant opportunities arise and it’s time to take risks with the right team, I’m all in. That’s one of the reasons I’ve always loved racing alongside Max; the mindset of a driver plays a crucial role.
We’ve been friends for many years, which makes our battles on the track even more thrilling. Sadly, that won’t be the case in 2024, as he started the season with a much stronger car, and we weren’t able to compete with him.
He had no justification for displaying aggression towards us in various respects, which left us in a position of having to catch up. By the time we became competitive, Lando was positioned between us, preventing him from perceiving us as direct rivals. Consequently, in 2024, there were no significant confrontations.
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