Charles Leclerc stated that he would have no problem sharing Ferrari with Max Verstappen in the future, should the four-time world champion decide to leave Red Bull. Rivals since karting days, Leclerc revealed that in the past he believed Verstappen was a “bad person,” while the Red Bull driver held the same view of him:
“Our relationship has matured over the years; I was convinced he was a bad person and he felt the same about me,” Leclerc told Sky Italia. “But now our relationship has changed.”
Verstappen made his Formula 1 debut in 2015 with Toro Rosso, while Leclerc arrived in the category in 2018 with Sauber and moved to Ferrari the following year. Since then, the two have staged numerous on-track duels and built a different relationship off the track.
“He is an exceptional driver who has won four world championships, but I was fortunate to have some brilliant teammates: Hamilton, [Sebastian] Vettel, [Carlos] Sainz,” he said. “So, having him as a teammate would not worry me if it happened one day.”
The Monégasque also highlighted the historical significance of a potential Verstappen-Ferrari partnership: “That would also be a great story because we started together in 2010 and competed in all karting categories together.”
However, Leclerc stated that the focus at the moment is his harmony with Lewis Hamilton: “Having him at Ferrari? We’ll just enjoy Lewis for now.”
The future of Verstappen remains one of the main topics in Formula 1. Mercedes and McLaren have already been linked with the driver, though the most likely scenario is a continuation at Red Bull, the team he calls his “second family.” Even with a contract through the end of 2028, Verstappen has yet to confirm his plans for the 2027 season.
