Horner praises Leclerc: 'Racing hard and fair'

21:16, 08 Aug 2022
17 Comments

Charles Leclerc has had a first half of the season with highs and lows. The Ferrari driver is now 80 points behind Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing, and seems to be able to forget about the world title. But he does have a new fan: Christian Horner.

The Red Bull team boss tells Racer He is impressed with the Monegasque. In particular he praises Leclerc's racing style: hard, but fair. Horner points out that there were no accidents in the first half of the season between Leclerc and Verstappen. That was different last year between Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton.


Battle of the arms

Despite Verstappen's sizeable lead in the standings and Red Bull also having a large points differential with Ferrari, Horner does not want to say that the titles are fixed. “The points tables look healthy and it’s a great way to sign off into the summer break but there’s still a lot of racing to go,” he said

“Ferrari are quick, Mercedes are coming back into the game. There’s still a long, long way to go in this championship – plus a Sprint race – so we don’t take anything for granted. There’s still a lot of racing to do and at very different venues.”

17 Comments
Bruce Jay 09 August 2022 at 10:47+ 447

Charles himself said the other day that this is because they aren't fighting for the championship and if they were, things might be very different.

Commentator 10 August 2022 at 09:55+ 8554

Might be…we will see. Last year it all started at Silverstone, everyone knows that. The combination HAM/WOL started there their toxic tactics. A business team with actors and lawyers. Totally different from the FER team, a real racing team. That’s the difference.

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CarnismKing 09 August 2022 at 10:25+ 4336

Hopefully this comment will be seen as a slight against Hamilton, who can’t race hard or fair , unless he’s got a second a lap advantage.

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Prinsje 09 August 2022 at 10:15+ 18804

Just look at the battle between Max and Charles at Silverstone 2019. 30 laps of non stop on the edge hard battling between Charles and Max. Still the best battle till date in the hybrid era.

Dang 09 August 2022 at 09:22+ 3050

Class act...kicking them whilst they are down....no comment the best comment...what's Leclerc to do with that compliment ?

Ferrarifanatic 09 August 2022 at 07:10+ 14286

I agree Charles is one of the most talented drivers out there, and quite possibly a future WDC!!

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Mech Engineer 09 August 2022 at 14:35+ 55069

The WDC for the next few years, will be shared between the following drivers. It just depends which team is able to give their driver a competitive enough car to challenge for the title. The drivers are : Max, Charles, George, Lando and Piastri. I don’t see any other drivers winning from now till about 2028. At McL, it will be interesting to see who the No 1 driver will be. Piastri will give Lando a run for his money.

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Mark from Canada 09 August 2022 at 03:50+ 10415

Horner is talking about Leclerc but somehow the comments always become another mindless battle of RBMax and MBLewis fans going wildly off topic

BushyBB 08 August 2022 at 23:32+ 857

Until he doesn’t right Mr Horner, LEC is no HAM I wouldn’t expect him to fight like HAM ever would…… not a HAM fan btw……

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F1isBack 09 August 2022 at 06:13+ 31513

Do you think Charles would have choked in the last lap in Abu Dhabi last year driving no44? I suggest he would be the reigning current World Champion.

Fadi Arbid 09 August 2022 at 07:02+ 149

Just look how hard he flighted in Silverstone after the safety car

Bruce Jay 09 August 2022 at 10:45+ 447

Choked on the last lap. New tyres vs old tyres. Why comment if you are only going to show you don't know the first thing about how F1 cars work. Strewth.

BushyBB 09 August 2022 at 10:50+ 857

No one choked - someone was robbed when someone on newer tyres appeared directly behind them.

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Dynamiq 09 August 2022 at 12:02+ 24353

Weird how Perez was able to defend for much longer on old tyres

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Dynamiq 09 August 2022 at 12:41+ 24353

"that was way earlier in the race not even a close comparison" - Why not?

BushyBB 09 August 2022 at 12:39+ 857

LOL - you VER guys are unreal, that was way earlier in the race not even a close comparison

Rob01 08 August 2022 at 22:01+ 6151

There has been little of this racing Hornboggles speaks of. Ferrari has not been in the picture for most of the races. He may have well said we are happy to have such error prove competitors (team/drivers)