‘Absolutely stunning’ F1 driver told he’s an even better qualifier than Max Verstappen

Follow us on Google Discover

Max Verstappen might have dominated the 2023 Formula 1 season but Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc is arguably a better qualifier.

That’s the opinion of journalist Scott Mitchell-Malm speaking on The Race F1 Podcast at the conclusion of this season.

Charles Leclerc’s season can be summed up pretty well by looking at his performances on a Saturday against his results on a Sunday.

The Monegasque took pole position more than any other driver except for Max Verstappen last year but failed to convert a single first-place start into a win.

Ultimately, that’s not completely down to Leclerc, with the Red Bull simply being much faster than the 26-year-old’s Ferrari.

Leclerc is such a brilliant qualifier though that he’s still been able to challenge Verstappen even in a slower car.

Martin Brundle has since come out and claimed that he might be even quicker than the Dutchman in the same car.

Whether that’s true or not might forever remain a mystery as Leclerc looks set to sign a new long-term deal with Ferrari that would likely keep the pair in different cars for the foreseeable future.

Leclerc is an even better qualifier than Verstappen – journalist

Speaking about the Monegasque driver, Mitchell-Malm said: “[Charles] Leclerc, the way he dances a car through the corner on a qualifying lap is absolutely stunning.

“But that has bit him a few times with the nature of that Ferrari which is why you’ve also seen qualifying sessions where he’s crashed out or he’s ended up underperforming or that run of races where he was outqualified by [Carlos] Sainz who was the one who got a couple of poles for Ferrari in that spell when Leclerc was contained by the car.

“By and large, especially when he’s able to do what he wants to do in a car and I think this goes for if you gave every single driver on the grid the exact car that they wanted for qualifying, I think Leclerc would just, just edge it.

“I don’t think he’s a choke artist come Sundays, I think that’s because he puts his car where it doesn’t deserve to be on the grid more often than not.

“Is he the best driver on the grid? Would I back him in a race to save my life if it was over a full Grand Prix distance? Not as convinced by that as I would be of saying he’s the best qualifier in Formula 1 at the moment.”

Leclerc may enjoy being named a better qualifier than Verstappen but until he returns to the top step of the podium it won’t be much consolation.

The 26-year-old has also been told he needs to keep his car out of the barriers more going forward.

He pushes his car to the absolute limits on Saturdays and although it earned him five poles in 2023, he also made mistakes that cost him positions on the grid.

Finding that balance is important but his baseline pace makes him one of the fastest drivers on the grid.