Max Verstappen has just explained why Charles Leclerc must be considered a 2026 F1 title challenger

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Max Verstappen leaves the 2025 Formula 1 season with no regrets after missing out on a fifth title by just two points.

The Dutchman put up a valiant effort, achieving 10 consecutive podium finishes in the second half of the season, and clawing back 102 of 104 points to the drivers’ championship leader.

Sadly for him, it wasn’t enough. Red Bull’s aggressive development of the RB21 so nearly caught McLaren off-guard, but they had just about enough in the tank to hang on.

Now, it’s time for Verstappen to focus on the future. The 2026 F1 regulations mark the first time that his team have produced their own power units ever, and it’s going to be a steep learning curve.

How the Drivers’ Championship would’ve looked without THAT swap in Monza…🤯

Should Max Verstappen feel aggrieved that Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri swapping places in Monza may have been the difference in the Drivers' Championship?

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Damon Hill thinks Verstappen is ‘flawless’ now that he has completed his 11th full-time campaign. Arguably, he’s at his peak right now.

After ex-boss Christian Horner’s sacking earlier this year, Martin Brundle thinks Verstappen was ‘a lot more relaxed’, and thinks that his performance was elevated thereafter.

READ MORE: Martin Brundle thinks Lewis Hamilton has ‘terribly’ missed what Max Verstappen has at Red Bull

Max Verstappen’s latest declaration shows why Charles Leclerc is a 2026 F1 title challenger

Nico Rosberg thinks Verstappen will be ‘impatient’ in 2026, and look to leave Red Bull if he doesn’t have a car capable of winning.

Throughout his career, he has always been close to the front. His rookie season with Toro Rosso is the only real exception.

Along the way, he has made friends and rivals, and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc is one of them. On Sunday in Abu Dhabi, he was so nearly his saviour.

But, he ended up falling a few seconds short of overtaking Lando Norris for third place, which would’ve made Verstappen world champion.

The 28-year-old said his rival drove with ‘heart’, and it’s an approach that the Monegasque driver always has. It’s why he must be considered a title contender for 2026.

“We were probably a bit too quick up front,” Verstappen said, according to The Race. “The others couldn’t really follow that well. I think Charles drove his heart out to try and get onto that podium, so that was also impressive to see.

“But, of course, they went for a two-stop. I think even that made it more complicated because if you stay on a one-stop, backing the whole thing up is tough. And I think this new layout around here makes it even harder to do that compared to 2016 or whatever.”

READ MORE: Charles Leclerc says Lewis Hamilton made him realise he had ‘a lot to learn’ at Ferrari

Has Charles Leclerc ever had the chance to fight for a Formula 1 title?

Looking back on Leclerc’s career, it’s hard to pick a time when he had a fair shot to contend throughout an entire season.

His first campaign with Ferrari in 2019 was promising, but Mercedes were a step ahead the whole way. 2020 and 2021 were disasters by his team’s standards.

2022 was meant to be the year, pulling out a mega 50-point gap to Max Verstappen over the first two races, before finding a way to finish 146 points behind him. Ferrari’s development was too poor.

Since then, he’s had cars capable of competing for wins and podiums, but 2022 being the best chance he’s ever had highlights just how much Ferrari have underachieved.

Leclerc is more ‘attentive’ alongside Lewis Hamilton, and he has learned a lot about being next to a seven-time champion. He’ll be an even better driver for it.