Charles Leclerc is now firmly established as considered one of Ferrari’s most vital drivers, sitting fourth on the record of all-time race begins for the long-lasting group in System 1. With 126 race appearances beneath his belt, he not too long ago surpassed Sebastian Vettel and is now aiming to go Felipe Massa’s tally of 139 race begins, which he’s anticipated to realize across the center of the 2025 season. On the high of the record is Michael Schumacher, who gained 5 championships with Ferrari and made 180 race begins for the group, whereas Kimi Raikkonen sits in second place with 151 begins. Regardless of the arrival of Lewis Hamilton in 2025, Charles Leclerc stays Ferrari’s golden boy, having been with their driver academy since 2016 and incomes his first F1 contract with Sauber in 2018 after his success in GP3 and System 2.
Charles Leclerc’s rise in System 1 was swift and spectacular, spending just one season at Sauber earlier than transferring as much as Ferrari. In his first 12 months with the Scuderia, he claimed a historic win at Monza, and since then, he has added eight victories, 26 pole positions, and 42 podiums to his résumé. His arrival at Ferrari marked the top of a difficult interval for the group, with Leclerc outscoring four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel by a big margin of 24 factors of their first season collectively. This robust efficiency led to the announcement that Vettel would depart the group on the finish of the 2020 season, making means for Carlos Sainz, who joined in 2021 and has since moved on to Williams.
Charles Leclerc’s uncooked expertise has earned him recognition from fellow drivers, with Esteban Ocon not too long ago claiming that Charles Leclerc, alongside Max Verstappen, is without doubt one of the most naturally gifted drivers in F1. At 27 years previous, the Monegasque continues to be looking for his first World Championship title, together with his continued consistency and spectacular performances putting him among the many sport’s elite.
Earlier than Leclerc’s rise to prominence, Ferrari had already been carefully monitoring his progress throughout his early years in System 1. Sauber was not the one group operating Ferrari engines in 2018; Haas, an American outfit based in 2016, was additionally utilizing the Italian producer’s energy models. Haas’s star driver that season was Kevin Magnussen, who performed a vital function in securing the group’s fifth-place end within the Constructors’ Championship, contributing 56 of their 93 factors. Kevin Magnussen’s robust performances early within the season, together with 4 top-six finishes within the first 9 races, sparked curiosity from Ferrari.
On the identical time, Charles Leclerc’s begin to his F1 profession was extra measured. He completed thirteenth, twelfth, and nineteenth in his first three races, which led Ferrari to think about him as a possible backup possibility. The Monegasque driver even examined on their simulator, however the group’s preliminary curiosity waned as Charles Leclerc’s performances improved over the course of the season. In the end, Ferrari’s choice to advertise him to their group was vindicated, as Charles Leclerc has gone on to grow to be one of many group’s most promising abilities and is now a key determine of their pursuit of a championship.
“In 2018, we had a extremely good automobile within the first half of the 12 months,” – the Danish driver stated – “Charles had simply arrived in F1 with Sauber. And the beginning of his first season wasn’t nice. And mine was actually good! After which instantly Ferrari was reaching out.” – he added.
“All of a sudden I used to be driving of their simulator, not for Haas, however for Ferrari. They had been sniffing round. And I assumed, okay… I used to be already getting enthusiastic about the place this was going. However then Charles began to actually kill it! And I heard nothing. I don’t know the way shut it received. However I believe if Charles had not began to carry out, if he had had a s****y season all 12 months lengthy, I believe I’d have been one of many drivers they’d have checked out. Typically you are feeling like you might be getting shut, however nonetheless not that shut. That’s the best way it goes.” – he admitted.
Anthony Davidson has expressed a robust need to see Kevin Magnussen go head-to-head with Max Verstappen in a future System 1 season, acknowledging the extraordinary rivalry that would emerge between the 2. Nevertheless, six years after Magnussen’s spectacular debut, he now finds himself with out a seat on the grid. With Haas opting to not renew his contract, as a substitute bringing in Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman for the upcoming seasons, it seems that Magnussen’s F1 profession could also be coming to an finish.
Magnussen’s early years in System 1 had been marked by notable achievements that left followers and pundits alike impressed. His debut race in 2014, the place he completed on the rostrum in Australia, was a exceptional feat for a rookie driver, and he adopted it up with a shocking pole place on the 2022 Sao Paulo Grand Prix. But, regardless of these moments of brilliance, he by no means managed to safe a race win, a incontrovertible fact that has hung over his profession.
Together with his future in System 1 unsure, Magnussen is eyeing a brand new chapter in motorsport, significantly with the rise of Cadillac as a possible F1 group beginning in 2026. If the American group decides to herald a seasoned driver to guide their cost, Magnussen might very properly discover himself on their radar, bringing his in depth expertise and aggressive spirit to a brand new atmosphere.
Anthony Davidson, a former F1 driver and present commentator, has lengthy been an admirer of Magnussen’s driving model, which he describes as aggressive and unyielding. Davidson has typically identified that Magnussen is a “robust nut,” somebody who isn’t afraid to get entangled in wheel-to-wheel battles with a number of the greatest within the enterprise. In line with Davidson, the prospect of Magnussen dealing with off towards Verstappen, recognized for his relentless racing and no-nonsense method, would create an exhilarating and fiery dynamic on monitor. Their intense driving types might result in some extremely thrilling and unpredictable racing, making for a spectacle that followers would eagerly anticipate.
Anthony Davidson’s enthusiasm for this potential matchup displays a broader sentiment within the F1 neighborhood: that the game is all the time higher when its most aggressive drivers are pitted towards each other. In a world the place rivalries typically outline a season, the thought of Kevin Magnussen and Max Verstappen locking horns would undoubtedly present loads of drama and pleasure for F1 followers around the globe.
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