During the Spanish Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc supported Max Verstappen’s grievances following their dramatic podium fight, recognizing the frustration after overtaking the Red Bull driver late in the race. The turning point came when a safety car appeared near the end of the race, forcing Verstappen, then in third place, to pit for fresh hard tires while most drivers around him stayed on soft tires, gaining a grip advantage.
This tire difference left Verstappen particularly exposed at the restart, a vulnerability worsened by an error he made exiting the final corner, where he spun his rear tires and lost momentum. This slip gave Leclerc the chance to get side by side with Verstappen as they raced into the final section of the track.
Contact During Overtake Sparks Verstappen’s Frustration
As both drivers fought closely, Leclerc moved slightly to the left, causing minor contact with Verstappen’s car. Despite this, Leclerc successfully completed the overtaking maneuver, but Verstappen’s radio messages soon expressed displeasure over the collision. After the race, in the FIA press conference, Leclerc acknowledged understanding Verstappen’s complaints.
“I mean, I probably would have been very vocal if it was the other way around as well, because you are fighting for third place.”
—Charles Leclerc, Ferrari Driver
Leclerc described the overtake, saying,
“Honestly, I don’t have any particular feeling about it. There was nothing special. I overtook on the inside. He tried to squeeze me on the dirty side of the track, then I had the upper hand because I had more speed because I had more speed because of the mistake he had done.”
—Charles Leclerc, Ferrari Driver
“And then I was trying to take the slipstream of the McLaren, went a tiny bit to the left. He didn’t seem to want to move at all, and we touched a little bit, but there was nothing special.”
—Charles Leclerc, Ferrari Driver
Leclerc’s Aggressive Approach Fueled by Tire Advantage
Leclerc admitted that from the moment he noticed Verstappen was on hard tires, he shifted into full attack mode, realizing that the older hard rubber would struggle late in the race compared to soft tires. He seized the opportunity to challenge Verstappen vigorously at the restart.
“Well, I mean, from the moment where I knew that Max was on a Hard tyre, I was like, ‘OK, that’s not a great tyre to be on for the last five laps’, especially if there’s no saving or whatsoever.”
—Charles Leclerc, Ferrari Driver
“So, I knew that it was a full attack for me and that there was an opportunity to finish on the podium. Max went with a lot of commitment in the last corner, lost the rear on the exit and then I was basically side by side, and I was very happy to take the third place.”
—Charles Leclerc, Ferrari Driver
Verstappen’s Further Troubles and Leclerc’s Impressive Charge
Later in the race, Verstappen became involved in another incident with George Russell which resulted in a 10-second penalty, intensifying his difficult day. Meanwhile, Leclerc displayed notable skill by advancing from seventh on the grid to finish in third place, securing a valuable podium for Ferrari.
This tense encounter highlighted both drivers’ determination and the razor-thin margins that often decide podium spots in Formula 1, especially under rapidly changing conditions like those presented by the late safety car. The clash between Leclerc and Verstappen is likely to be remembered as one of the defining battles of the Spanish GP, with repercussions for the championship campaign ahead.
