There\u2019s only one driver on the Formula 1 grid who could compete with Max Verstappen in equal machinery, and that\u2019s Charles Leclerc.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s according to former F1 driver Riccardo Patrese, who says Lando Norris may be the new World Champion, but the Ferrari driver is the only one on the same level as Verstappen.<\/p>\n
Riccardo Patrese: Even if the new champion is called Norris\u2026<\/p>\n
Seven years into his Ferrari stay, Leclerc has yet to challenge for a Drivers\u2019 Championship title.<\/p>\n
He joined the Scuderia in 2019, in the final years of the Mercedes era, where his new Ferrari teammate Lewis Hamilton dominated in Mercedes colours.<\/p>\n
Red Bull and Verstappen<\/a> were the ones to eventually bring Mercedes\u2019 reign to an end as the Dutch racer beat Hamilton in a wheel-to-wheel battle for the 2021 title. And so began the Verstappen era.<\/p>\n That too, though, has ended with McLaren and Norris winning the double this season, Norris taking the title by two points ahead of Verstappen.<\/p>\n F1 2025: The season\u2019s winners and losers<\/p>\n \ud83d\udc49\u00a0The results of the F1 2025 championship <\/a><\/p>\n \ud83d\udc49\u00a0The final Drivers\u2019 and Constructors\u2019 Championship standings<\/a><\/p>\n Leclerc, despite finishing twice on the season\u2019s podium \u2013 in 2022 behind Verstappen, and 2024 when he trailed Verstappen and Norris \u2013 has yet to launch a genuine title challenge as even in his runner-up season, he was a massive 146 points down on Verstappen.<\/p>\n But according to former driver Patrese, the blame doesn\u2019t belong with Leclerc, it\u2019s on Ferrari, yet to give him a car that\u2019s capable of challenging for the World title.<\/p>\n In fact, such is the 71-year-old\u2019s belief in Leclerc, he says the six-time Grand Prix winner is the only driver who could compete against Verstappen.<\/p>\n