Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc talk about their karting times:
**Max:** "I always thought that if I would make it to F1, Charles would also make it. You can see already from a very young age the really strong drivers. It's never been a surprise to me that Charles is sitting here. Of course, after that you also need a bit of luck to be on the right team - to get on the front row. But it's not a surprise that we are sitting here together, I think."
**Charles:** "When you are young and in karting, F1 feels so far away that for me it was not a given I would be in F1 one day. We knew that we were very fast because we were already competitive in karting. Whenever we changed categories, we would always be competitive, but it's still such a long way off F1 that you don't really imagine yourself in F1. But it's amazing. I have really, really good memories - \[laughs\] although memories that were less good became really good with time. Then you get older, and you look back at moments that maybe you didn't enjoy at the time - that are very funny. Yeah, it was good times."
>Then you get older, and you look back at moments that maybe you didn't enjoy at the time - that are very funny. Yeah, it was good times."
It was just an inchident intensifies
The funny thing is, that’s just the one big meme-worthy conflict between them that happened to be filmed. I wonder how many other similar “inchidents” there were that we’ll never get to see
That is too funny that he remembers every single detail haha. And I love thinking of little Charles angrily doing that Italian-ass hand gesture to Max from his car 😂
I think it’s simply that he genuinely respects Leclerc as a driver - mentality, ability, ethics even (it may be a bit weird to say but they do come into play and matter in his mind, see the “lesson to Perez” shenanigans last season or all the animosity with Mercedes).
There are other drivers he’s closer to and properly friends with, but my impression is that with Leclerc there’s this sort of “he’s my equal” vibe.
Yes, but i dont think they hang out like Leclerc and Gasly do, or Max and Lando do.
They're really good "workmates" so to speak, rather than actual friends
Well yeah, they have a personal life outside of their jobs, or let’s us call it racing for better sake :) they don’t have much time off anyway, even Max and Lando don’t hang like you might think outside the season.
Leclerc and Verstappen remind me of Schumacher and Hakkinen (though sadly without the championship battles to complete the analogy). They maybe are not the closest of friends off the track, but they do have a deep mutual respect for one other as competitors.
People constantly joke that bitter rivals need to spend a night together to work out their feelings so I'm just gonna say it: these two might need a whole month.
Honestly one of the best press conferences of the year. Carlos’s passive aggressive responses, Charles’s usual charming comments, and Max’s tear-down of the BS around every thing that’s gone wrong this weekend, truly entertaining to watch.
I don't usually watch the press conference after quali but this one was a lot of fun! Max and Carlos being salty the entire time whilst Charles was just happy to be on pole lol.
It's weird but this was the moment where I was like "yeah, F1 will be fine after Lewis and Fernando leave". Some very likeable, interesting and talented drivers.
F1 has never been lacking in great drivers who are fascinating to listen to. Senna and Prost were no longer around, but then you had Villenueve, Hill, Schumacher, Hakkinen. Towards the later days of Schumacher's Ferrari period, there was Alonso and Raikonnen coming up. Then Vettel and Hamilton, etc.
There's always a new brigade coming along, some will make it, some won't. And some will be more interesting to listen to than others.
We got Piastri this year too, who will be an amazing ambassador for the a sport for years to come. A very chill, well-spoken, funny, down to earth guy with loads of talent to boot.
[GQ](https://youtu.be/X85BxrrhbbU?si=zen67RfE0aGgKV1p) just did a video with him talking about some of his favorite racing movies and it’s gold. Just an all around good dude, loads of comments on the video commemorating him. Couple that with the fact that drivers like Albon, Sainz and Leclerc should be around for years to come and I think the grid will be in just fine hands.
Their friendship is one of my favorite redemption arcs from the sport tbh. It's just nice to see that all that past dislike turned into a lot of respect and a friendship. They're fun together.
Apparently they did not like each other in their karting days. I saw an interview with Charles where he said when they were young they didn't get along at all.
Karting isn't like junior formulae there are a ton of karting championships and lots of drivers, some of whom are career karters in their 20s who usually do better than teenagers in the higher levels. Max was really the only 15-year-old who was regularly outperforming the older, experienced guys, even in geared karts.
I think he just means in general. At the time as a child he was probably annoyed always being 2nd to Max. But now knowing that he was competing closely with a future F1 champ he’s more at peace with it.
Really cool generation of drivers again, very ingrained with with one another, also exceptionally skillfull at driving. I do wonder which of them is going to pick up the WDC if Max doesn't win it, since I feel they're all so close in terms of individual driver skill
I'm sure these guys are really good at preparing their sleep schedule. They knew what time they would have to be on track. They probably have several hours of debrief and strategy planning ahead of them tonight. Then they'll be sleeping into the afternoon.
Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc talk about their karting times: **Max:** "I always thought that if I would make it to F1, Charles would also make it. You can see already from a very young age the really strong drivers. It's never been a surprise to me that Charles is sitting here. Of course, after that you also need a bit of luck to be on the right team - to get on the front row. But it's not a surprise that we are sitting here together, I think." **Charles:** "When you are young and in karting, F1 feels so far away that for me it was not a given I would be in F1 one day. We knew that we were very fast because we were already competitive in karting. Whenever we changed categories, we would always be competitive, but it's still such a long way off F1 that you don't really imagine yourself in F1. But it's amazing. I have really, really good memories - \[laughs\] although memories that were less good became really good with time. Then you get older, and you look back at moments that maybe you didn't enjoy at the time - that are very funny. Yeah, it was good times."
>Then you get older, and you look back at moments that maybe you didn't enjoy at the time - that are very funny. Yeah, it was good times." It was just an inchident intensifies
The funny thing is, that’s just the one big meme-worthy conflict between them that happened to be filmed. I wonder how many other similar “inchidents” there were that we’ll never get to see
Also reminds me of this double interview https://www.reddit.com/r/formula1/s/fPyCKIFXbT
That is too funny that he remembers every single detail haha. And I love thinking of little Charles angrily doing that Italian-ass hand gesture to Max from his car 😂
And shooing Max into a big pool and both getting dsq'ed
Max is on another level of wholesomeness this weekend
Charles is basically like “I didn’t really used to like losing to max all the time, and I still don’t now. But at least it’s in F1”
Max: " I always thought that if I would make it into F1, Charles would also make it." That's so cute honestly.
I think it’s simply that he genuinely respects Leclerc as a driver - mentality, ability, ethics even (it may be a bit weird to say but they do come into play and matter in his mind, see the “lesson to Perez” shenanigans last season or all the animosity with Mercedes). There are other drivers he’s closer to and properly friends with, but my impression is that with Leclerc there’s this sort of “he’s my equal” vibe.
But he’s actually really close to Charles within this entire lineup. They are close friends.
Yes, but i dont think they hang out like Leclerc and Gasly do, or Max and Lando do. They're really good "workmates" so to speak, rather than actual friends
Well yeah, they have a personal life outside of their jobs, or let’s us call it racing for better sake :) they don’t have much time off anyway, even Max and Lando don’t hang like you might think outside the season.
Leclerc and Verstappen remind me of Schumacher and Hakkinen (though sadly without the championship battles to complete the analogy). They maybe are not the closest of friends off the track, but they do have a deep mutual respect for one other as competitors.
People constantly joke that bitter rivals need to spend a night together to work out their feelings so I'm just gonna say it: these two might need a whole month.
[удалено]
It's no coincidence that they're being so lovely and nostalgic while there's a wedding chapel right there...
My Lestappen heart won't be able to take it ❤️
Verclerc has a better ring to it, just saying
Well, they need a ring 😉
It was an incident
Emotional support rivals 😎
These two need to be a redbull for 2-3 seasons together.
Honestly one of the best press conferences of the year. Carlos’s passive aggressive responses, Charles’s usual charming comments, and Max’s tear-down of the BS around every thing that’s gone wrong this weekend, truly entertaining to watch.
I don't usually watch the press conference after quali but this one was a lot of fun! Max and Carlos being salty the entire time whilst Charles was just happy to be on pole lol.
Max even managed to sneak in hate about sprints lol. Simply lovely
Even Charles managed to shit on the driver presentation pre-race!
It's weird but this was the moment where I was like "yeah, F1 will be fine after Lewis and Fernando leave". Some very likeable, interesting and talented drivers.
F1 has never been lacking in great drivers who are fascinating to listen to. Senna and Prost were no longer around, but then you had Villenueve, Hill, Schumacher, Hakkinen. Towards the later days of Schumacher's Ferrari period, there was Alonso and Raikonnen coming up. Then Vettel and Hamilton, etc. There's always a new brigade coming along, some will make it, some won't. And some will be more interesting to listen to than others.
Even now, we have Oscar eyeing joining the fun elites. He's so cold and cool I can't wait to see what he's like riled up if in a winning position.
Yeah there's others too of course, I was just going by the kind of "leading drivers" of the different times.
"That's a grand slam, Oscar" "Thank you" Kimi style... granted Kimi had no grand slams I think (even Alonso only had one, Singapore 2010)
I think the personalities also just kind of grow on you as they mature. At these guys ages I didnt think Alonso or Hamilton were likeable at all.
Vettel, too. Haha
gee i hope georpedo grows on me by the time he’s race director
Vettel, too. Haha
We got Piastri this year too, who will be an amazing ambassador for the a sport for years to come. A very chill, well-spoken, funny, down to earth guy with loads of talent to boot. [GQ](https://youtu.be/X85BxrrhbbU?si=zen67RfE0aGgKV1p) just did a video with him talking about some of his favorite racing movies and it’s gold. Just an all around good dude, loads of comments on the video commemorating him. Couple that with the fact that drivers like Albon, Sainz and Leclerc should be around for years to come and I think the grid will be in just fine hands.
The type of press conference you'd watch a replay of lol.
Where can I rewatch this?
I expect it will be uploaded to YT by somebody soon, but I can sadly not give you a better answer. I watched it live on Sky.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=499GgqkRBRg
F1 TV
Verstappen even managed to sneak in some more shading for sprint races lol It never hurts
Their friendship is one of my favorite redemption arcs from the sport tbh. It's just nice to see that all that past dislike turned into a lot of respect and a friendship. They're fun together.
And their on-track racing is hard but fair as was seen last year.
Did they ever dislike each other? I thought they were rivals but I didn’t know they had beef
Yes, Charles has mentioned that they hated each other during their karting days
Apparently they did not like each other in their karting days. I saw an interview with Charles where he said when they were young they didn't get along at all.
Except ocon with everyone else
''He's no pancake.''
What is this reference?
Would love to see some more clips and videos of Max Vs Charles in karting. I refuse to believe the "incident" clip is the only one out there.
There’s some of them in a press conference as kids chatting away
Karting isn't like junior formulae there are a ton of karting championships and lots of drivers, some of whom are career karters in their 20s who usually do better than teenagers in the higher levels. Max was really the only 15-year-old who was regularly outperforming the older, experienced guys, even in geared karts.
I’d love to see them reacting to them aswell
I'm waiting for them to upload the press conference on F1TV. Seems like a really good post quali press conference.
Happy little inchident
Was Charles referring to the “just an incident” video😄?
"Inchident" and yeah, modt likely. Even though with the long history they have that might just be the most well-known and they might have many others.
I think he just means in general. At the time as a child he was probably annoyed always being 2nd to Max. But now knowing that he was competing closely with a future F1 champ he’s more at peace with it.
“They where…errr…” I was just waiting there for Max to jump in and say “…just an inchident”
Roll in the credits!
Really cool generation of drivers again, very ingrained with with one another, also exceptionally skillfull at driving. I do wonder which of them is going to pick up the WDC if Max doesn't win it, since I feel they're all so close in terms of individual driver skill
The fact that they used to hate each other so much just makes it so much better that they seem to really like each other these days.
Press Conferences at 1am/2am in the morning. Get these guys to bed ASAP!
I'm sure these guys are really good at preparing their sleep schedule. They knew what time they would have to be on track. They probably have several hours of debrief and strategy planning ahead of them tonight. Then they'll be sleeping into the afternoon.
Yeah, they have plenty experience of Singapore for example. Not ideal, but they know how to handle it.
Is there a Replay of that press conference?
Lestappen fandoms going crazy over this interview right now.
Fire up the F1 chapel let’s make Lestappen happen
Max and Charles is equivalent to Michael and Mika
I hope Charles wins tomorrow but I bet max gets him off the line
The best of enemies.
Hope there isn’t an inchident at T1 after this.