The 2024 Formula 1 season has produced some unforgettable moments with Max Verstappen ultimately ending the campaign with a fourth consecutive title.
The Drivers’ Championship was decided in Las Vegas, but Max Verstappen really proved his credentials to be a legendary F1 driver with his performance at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
Verstappen knew he had his work cut out before one of the wettest races in recent Formula 1 history started.
He was caught out by one of the many red flags during qualifying, meaning he was eliminated in Q2 before serving a five-second penalty.
He began the race in P17 with his closest championship rival – Lando Norris – on the front row of the grid.
David Coulthard was stunned by Verstappen’s performance in Brazil as he carved his way through the pack and benefitted from a well-time safety car.
He won the race convincingly, setting fastest lap after fastest lap in the closing stages of the race.
However, replying to a post from the official Formula 1 page on Instagram, plenty of fans believed that Ferrari star Charles Leclerc went one better than Verstappen’s Sao Paulo run this year.
F1 fans think Charles Leclerc’s Abu Dhabi comeback was better than Max Verstappen’s Sao Paulo win
The post from the Formula 1 page highlighted the best comeback drives of the season.
Verstappen made up 16 positions in Brazil to win, while Leclerc’s drive at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was equally impressive when taking into account how many overtakes he had to make.
Leclerc started 19th, but was in P8 by the end of the first lap and ended up on the podium, 31 seconds behind eventual winner Lando Norris.
George Russell, Lewis Hamilton, Pierre Gasly and Norris all also featured on the list, but fans were quick to point out why the Monegasque’s performance during the season’s finale was better than Verstappen’s at Interlagos.
READ MORE: Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc’s life outside F1 from net worth to girlfriend
One fan said, “We aren’t talking about Leclerc’s P19 to P3 enough” while another pointed out, “Charles did it with a regular race, without SC or VSC or rain”
This was a common theme among fans, with another saying, “Note that Charles’ drive was without the help of any safety car or red flag.”
This was echoed once again when another fan said, “Leclerc’s was better, Max was fortunate to get a red flag and Leclerc didn’t have a red flag nor a safety car.”
The Monegasque driver’s lack of need for a safety car or red flag earned him plenty of praise, “Leclerc remontada [comeback] was the better one (without safety car, normal weather conditions, not the best car…) he just pushed his car to the maximum.”
However, what was also evident was the respect both drivers earned with their performances, with one final fan saying: “Max and Leclerc were on another level this season both over-performing in their respective cars”
Charles Leclerc waiting for the chance to battle Max Verstappen once again
Verstappen has spent his entire F1 career going wheel-to-wheel with some of the best drivers in the sport, but Leclerc hasn’t been on his radar all too often.
During the 2022 season, Leclerc started brilliantly, winning two of the first three races and starting on pole position at six of the first eight Grand Prix.
However, the 42-podium driver quickly dropped off and aside from winning in Austria, didn’t stand on the top step of the podium again.
READ MORE: David Coulthard pinpoints ‘perfect’ Charles Leclerc moment this season that he absolutely loved
Ferrari are in a much better position now and should be ready to challenge for both championships in 2025.
Leclerc will have to get the better of new teammate Lewis Hamilton first if he wants to win his first title.
Unless Red Bull are completely off the pace, Verstappen can’t be ruled out of achieving a fifth straight championship win next year.
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