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Gerhard Berger believes Max Verstappen has a small edge over Charles Leclerc

Gerhard Berger believes Max Verstappen has a "small edge" over Charles Leclerc

18-09-2019 12:22 Last update: 19-09-2019 09:20
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Bobby Vincent

Former Formula 1 driver Gerhard Berger believes Max Verstappen "for now has a small edge" over rival Charles Leclerc, with the two already building up quite a rivalry.

Verstappen and Leclerc are both 21-years-old and have both won two races this season, to hault Mercedes' dominance for the time-being at least. Lewis Hamilton is the current world champion and championship leader. He looks set to make it six world titles barring no major meltdown for the remainder of the season.

Berger cannot give an answer when quizzed on who is the best driver out of Hamilton, Verstappen and Leclerc, but he can compare the Dutch driver and the Monegasque driver.

"The three of them are currently the strongest and it is clear that Verstappen and Leclerc will be the stars of Formula 1 in the future," Berger said to Autosprint. 

Former Ferrari driver Berger believes the Italian team have done excellent business by throwing Leclerc in for this season, considering it's only his second season in Formula 1 and he has repaid their faith in him.

"Ferrari has one of the strongest drivers to compete in the next world championships," Berger said. "He has already had more chances to prove his worth. The value he has now is enormous.

"Leclerc drove in Formula 2 and Formula 3, while Verstappen went from Formula 3 directly to Toro Rosso in F1. In Formula 3, they both drove for the same team, Van Amersfoort Racing. Verstappen showed just that little bit more, since he made his debut in the single-seater that year. The differences between the two most promising boys in contemporary motorsport are small, but for now Verstappen has a small edge over Leclerc."