Max Verstappen told there’s only one F1 driver who could compete with him in the same car

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Max Verstappen left two more F1 teammates in ruins in 2025. Liam Lawson lasted just two races alongside him, while Yuki Tsunoda has been demoted to a reserve role.

Verstappen was seven-tenths faster than Tsunoda on average in qualifying. Over the full season, he beat his teammate in 53 out of 55 sessions (when both cars were classified).

A year ago, Sergio Perez dropped off the grid after a similarly emphatic defeat. And before him, Alex Albon suffered the same fate.

🔢 Rank Max Verstappen’s five teammates since Daniel Ricciardo

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Verstappen has left a trail of destruction so great that Perez says no driver could survive at Red Bull. Isack Hadjar will be the next to try after a phenomenal rookie season.

Charles Leclerc could challenge ‘phenomenon’ Max Verstappen in equal machinery

Speaking to Quotidiano Nazionale, former F1 driver Riccardo Patrese claimed there is one driver who could challenge Verstappen in the same team – Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.

While Lando Norris won the championship in the dominant McLaren car, Leclerc was driving a fundamentally flawed SF-25. He still managed to score seven podiums and nearly 250 points.

Leclerc outqualified seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton 19-5, and won the race head-to-head 18-3.

When that record was put to Patrese, the six-time Grand Prix winner replied: “Where’s the surprise? Even if the new champion is called Norris, the only driver around who, with the same car, could compete with Verstappen, who is an absolute phenomenon, is none other than Carletto.

“He’s always playing it safe, because it’s the Scuderia’s fault that he’s never had the right equipment. Charles is hungry for success, I understand his frustration; the few times he makes mistakes, it’s because of his tremendous desire.”

Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen at Ferrari in 2027?

It’s said that Verstappen has a deep respect for Leclerc, a driver he raced against in karting. There’s a remote possibility that they could be teammates in 2027.

Ferrari have been linked with Verstappen, but they are also battling to hold on to Leclerc, who has made clear that he’s running out of patience. As he approaches his eighth season with the Scuderia, he’s still waiting for a contending car.

Hadjar believes that Verstappen is more cautious against Leclerc when they race wheel-to-wheel. Having battled him for so long, the Monegasque has a complete picture of how he races.

A partnership between the two drivers could be one of the most exciting in F1 history.