'Mutual respect between Verstappen and Leclerc won't last an entire season'

After two races and some intense dueling between Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc, the score currently stands at 1-1. What stood out was the mutual respect between the rivals, but Formula E driver Sam Bird fears that this will not remain the case throughout the season.

Bird calls the way the two drivers used their skills against each other "very special to see". For example, Verstappen waited with his overtaking action until Leclerc had passed the DRS measuring point, so that the Ferrari driver could then not take advantage of it. "They think three sectors ahead of others," Bird stated on the Chequered Flag- BBC podcast.

Despite his failure in Bahrain, Verstappen immediately came to congratulate his rival after the race. Leclerc did the same immediately after the finish in Saudi Arabia, where he narrowly lost the duel to Verstappen. However, Bird does not expect that rapport to remain the same in the long run.

"Part of me hopes it does, because it's great to see two drivers respect each other so much," the Briton continued. However, he fears that will not be the case, as both drivers are hugely driven to win the championship. Bird therefore expects that the two will still clash.