Leclerc prepped for battle with Verstappen: 'The stakes are much higher'

Charles Leclerc believes he is prepared to take on Max Verstappen in wheel-to-wheel combat. The Ferrari driver pointed out that their rivalry dates back to the early days of their careers, though he acknowledges that Formula 1 presents higher stakes and greater challenges.

In an interview with GPblog after Ferrari’s car launch, Leclerc was asked if he feels prepared for wheel-to-wheel battles with Verstappen in a potential title fight. He was also reminded that Lando Norris occasionally made mistakes in direct duels with the Red Bull Racing driver during the 2024 season.

"Only when I'll find myself in this position consistently, I'll be able to say for sure, but I feel like I'm ready, yes. Max is someone I've been fighting since forever, basically. So to fight him in Formula One is a different category," replied the Monegasque, who already had a rivalry with Verstappen in karting.

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