Leclerc on extreme rivalry: ''We couldn't stand each other before''

Leclerc came to Formula 1 as the dominant Formula 2 driver and immediately impressed Alfa Romeo. His move to Ferrari came early, but in 2019 he confirmed that he is a driver to be reckoned with. Leclerc himself indicates that this has made him a bit more closed on a personal level, but he rejects the criticism he gets that he is arrogant.

Leclerc versus Verstappen

''The only criticism that touches me is that I am arrogant, because I know I haven't changed. My father and Jules Bianchi (both deceased) have taught me to keep my feet on the ground, only that everyone wants to be your friend as a driver and sometimes you end it. It does touch me personally when someone calls me arrogant,'' says the Ferrari driver.

Leclerc also discusses the much talked about rivalry with Max Verstappen. The two met often in 2019, but that was also the case in the past. ''We couldn't stand each other before, but with time we have matured and we talk to each other. There is progress. At the end of the day, he's also just a good boy, but when we put on our helmets, there's the same rivalry as before in karting,'' concludes Leclerc.