Leclerc makes admission over Verstappen race craft

Charles Leclerc has asserted he will not race Max Verstappen differently to other drivers on the F1 grid.

Following the Austrian Grand Prix, the McLaren squad questioned Verstappen's racecraft after the Dutchman was involved in an incident with Lando Norris while battling for the lead.

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella theorised his manoeuvres in the braking zone were a result of his aggressive defensive moves during the 2021 season going unpunished.

Haas F1 driver Nico Hulkenberg declared that drivers should be aware of the tactics deployed by some of their peers and “take that kind of thing into your calculations or strategy and just be aware of that fact.”

However Leclerc, who has a long history of racing against Verstappen, declares he will not make exceptions for the three-time world champion.

“You get to know the drivers more and more,” Leclerc told media including RacingNews365. 

“And with Max, he’s probably the driver that I know most on the grid as we have driven against each other from a very long time, since back in 2010, I think. 

“You know more or less how each driver is going to react or fight or defend or attack you.

“However, I don’t fight them in different ways, any of them.”

Leclerc will go 'flat out' when victories available

Verstappen and Leclerc have enjoyed numerous on-track battles during their stint together in F1, having also famously shared a rivalry in their karting years.

While Leclerc admitted he will not race the Dutchman differently, he conceded some situations it makes little sense to put up a fight.

“I’ll always try and fight them in the same way,” Leclerc said. 

“It mostly depends on the situation you are in, and of course if you are fighting for a P6 in the championship, and Max is 100 points ahead, you might not fight him as hard. 

“But when a win is on the table, I will always go flat out with whoever I’m fighting with.”