Verstappen has less pressure than Leclerc

(Motorsport-Total.com) – The battle between Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen was value watching, particularly initially of the 2022 Formula 1 season, when Ferrari was capable of combat for the highest locations because of the brand new aerodynamic guidelines. At the identical time, there was a combat with the Red Bull staff.

But because the season progressed, the Scuderia confirmed nerves as, apart from reliability points, strategic cash was made in essential conditions, whereby Leclerc made no errors and turned first in a combat with Sergio Perez at Imola and on the French Grand Prix. His Ferrari took the lead in putting in the wall.

Former Formula 1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya believes Leclerc feels extra pressure than Verstappen, so he sees the two-time world champion in “superb psychological situation”, which won’t solely assist in 2022, however enhance Red Bull’s possibilities of profitable the title. 2023.

Montoya: Leclerc continues to be missing

“He is aware of he can beat anyone,” Montoya stated of Verstappen. “When you are able like that and you’ve got the tools you want, it is good and it will get the job carried out. [seine WM-Chancen für 2023] considerably greater. I believe Max is in an excellent psychological state proper now.”

“Last yr, he had to enhance his recreation. If you take a look at Checo, he took an enormous step at first of the yr. And Max actually needed to play his greatest recreation. When he did, it was nice to see him.”

At the identical time, the Colombian believes that Leclerc nonetheless lacks one thing to compete with Verstappen within the World Championship: “I can not say that he’s on the identical degree, as a result of I believe Charles is excellent, however there may be extra to Max. I believe the extra expertise you’ve gotten, the extra wins and extra championships, the extra pressure you’re taking.”

Montoya: It will depend on the automobile

“That’s why it is a lot simpler for Max to win the championship than Charles. Because it could be the primary championship for Charles. To be sincere, if Carlos is comfy within the automobile, I believe he can do rather well.”

“If you take a look at the previous vehicles on the finish of the yr, not final yr, however the yr earlier than that, Carlos was beating Charles each week. So it comes right down to driver consolation within the automobile.”

Montoya will drive parallel to Red Bull initially of the 2022 season, with Sergio Perez surprisingly near team-mate Verstappen, however the RB18 has misplaced extra floor because the season has progressed.

“If you look at first of the yr, Max was awkward and Checo may drive, Checo was quicker than him,” he says. “Is Checo a greater driver than Max? Honestly, he isn’t. He’s a very good driver, however I do not suppose he is on Max’s degree,” Montoya stated.

“But he was capable of drive and Max could not. That’s the place the staff works rather well. They perceive what he wants and so they do it higher. I believe it should be actually cool.”

Montoya: Ferrari has disadvantages in additional improvement

Because in response to Montoya, the event race might be essential for the world title in 2023, as he recognized final yr at Ferrari a number of the weaknesses that the staff wants to beat with a view to be aggressive in the direction of the tip of the season.

“What Red Bull has at all times carried out effectively is what they’ve achieved with the automobile. They can actually develop the automobile. It’s the identical with Mercedes. The tempo of improvement of the vehicles is in a unique league in comparison with others,” he stated. emphasizes.

“At the start of the yr, you would say the very best automobile was Ferrari. The quickest automobile was Ferrari, arms down. But they have three-tenths of the efficiency and Red Bull and Mercedes a second. Because should you take a look at Mercedes. At the tip of the yr they have Ferrari Max and He was capable of get nearer to Ferrari than Red Bull.”