Charles Leclerc admits he’s changed his mind about ‘bad guy’ Max Verstappen

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Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc used to think that Max Verstappen was a “bad guy” but would now love to battle the Red Bull racer, and he would even be open to being teammates.

Leclerc and Verstappen have been rivals all throughout their racing careers, and their rivalry has often seen them clash whenever they have come together on the circuit. But there have seldom been many genuine on-track battles between the pair since they reached Formula 1.

Ferrari loaned Leclerc to Sauber to record his Formula 1 debut in 2018, three years after Red Bull had placed Verstappen at their sister team Toro Rosso for his debut in 2015. Verstappen also moved up to Red Bull in the 2016 season, whereas Leclerc moved up to Ferrari in 2019.

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Charles Leclerc says his relationship with Max Verstappen has ‘changed’

Ferrari and Red Bull’s respective form levels have also since flowed to often only put one in a strong position. Even when both squads started the 2022 F1 season well, Leclerc only briefly took the fight to Verstappen before Red Bull out-developed Ferrari and started to dominate.

READ MORE: The five worst moments of Max Verstappen’s career in Formula 1

The shoe is on the other foot at the start of 2026, with Ferrari taking the battle to Mercedes while Red Bull are struggling. So, if offered the chance to battle any driver in a final lap duel, Leclerc would love to fight Verstappen, especially given how their relationship has changed.

“I would love to battle it out with Max Verstappen on the final corner – neither of us gives up,” Leclerc told Sky Sports Italy.

“Our relationship has matured over the years. I used to think he was a bad guy, and he thought the same about me, but now the relationship has changed.”

Charles Leclerc ‘wouldn’t be afraid’ of becoming F1 teammates with Max Verstappen

Leclerc and Verstappen’s rivalry predates their F1 careers, as they were also rivals in karting. They both began karting in 2005, and their paths first crossed in 2010 in the KF3 class of the South Garda Winter Cup, WSK Euro Series (which Verstappen won) and CIK-FIA World Cup.

Their paths continued to cross in karting through 2013, before Verstappen moved up to the Formula 3 European Championship one year before Leclerc debuted in the series. And they have continued to be rivals in F1 whilst Leclerc has had to watch Verstappen win four titles.

READ MORE: The five worst moments of Charles Leclerc’s Formula 1 career

Tensions have often boiled over when Leclerc and Verstappen have fought in F1, as well, but the biggest flashpoints so far arguably came in 2019, 2022 and 2023. Verstappen barged his way past Leclerc to controversially win the 2019 Austrian GP, they fought for the 2022 title, and Verstappen drew a penalty for forcing Leclerc off at the start of the 2023 Las Vegas GP.

But now that their relationship has changed, as Leclerc suggests, he would not be “afraid” of being teammates with Verstappen in the future. The Monegasque is not itching to welcome the Dutchman to Ferrari, though, and believes we should “enjoy” Lewis Hamilton “for now”.

Leclerc added: “He’s an exceptional driver who’s won four world championships. But luckily I’ve had the chance to race alongside some brilliant teammates – Hamilton, [Sebastian] Vettel [and Carlos] Sainz. So, I wouldn’t be afraid if that were to happen one day.

“It would also be a great story, because we started together in 2010 and raced through all the karting categories together. Having him at Ferrari? Let’s just enjoy Lewis for now.”