Alesi: 'Leclerc is not smarter in races than Verstappen'

After the preparation, it seemed that Ferrari and Red Bull Racing would be evenly matched and in the first two Grands Prix this was certainly the case. In the process, Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen immediately fought their first battles on track, with the man from Monaco winning first and the Dutchman getting the other. 

So far it has been very respectful on and off the track, despite the tough battles between the two. Former F1 driver Jean Alesi understands why the two drivers understand each other so well on the track: "When I see Leclerc and Verstappen, I feel like I'm looking at a double image. They are a photocopy of each other. Charles may seem better at reading a race, but that's just an impression," the Frenchman tells Il Corriere della Sera.

According to Alesi, last year things became grim between Hamilton and Verstappen because there was a kind of "competitive hatred" that sometimes caused both drivers to lose sight of reality. That is not the case now in the battle with Leclerc and Verstappen can therefore mentally control every stage of the race, the Frenchman claims.

Lots of history between Leclerc and Verstappen

Verstappen and Leclerc, meanwhile, have known each other for a long time. The two competed for years in karting, but the Dutchman made the switch to Formula 1 a few years earlier. When Leclerc finally came to the premier class of motorsport, Verstappen already said that everyone had to keep an eye on the Monegasque. If the two drivers race each other every Grand Prix as they have in recent races, then we have a great season ahead of us.