Charles Leclerc admits while Max Verstappen is more fun to race with, Lewis Hamilton is at least a little less risky.
The Monegasque enjoyed memorable battles with both during 2019, notably at the Austrian and British Grand Prix’s with the Red Bull driver and at Monza with the six-time world champion.
Though he came out second best in the duels with Verstappen, Leclerc managed to hold off Hamilton to score a famous Ferrari win in Italy and he explained how their approaches differ when racing wheel-to-wheel.
“If I want to be sure to finish the race, probably Lewis! But for the fun and the close racing probably Max, because I know it’s always exciting to be fighting with Max,” he told Sky Sports on who he trusts more.
“There’s very little space given but I think that’s what we all enjoy with the sport. Sometimes it’s a bit over the limit, sometimes it’s just on the limit, but I enjoy racing it in reality.
“Lewis has a bit of a different driving [style],” continued Leclerc.
“He’s extremely clever and I learn always so much when I fight with Lewis. He always knows exactly what you are going to do next with his experience, and that’s what makes him so good on track with the battles.
“He’s not very aggressive but always very correct and always very good to anticipate what you are going to do.”
For 2020, many expected to see more duels between Hamilton and the two leading stars of the next generation, but of course, all that has been put on hold by the coronavirus.
In the meantime, Leclerc has used that time to get closer with fans by Twitch streaming video games like Fortnite, F1 2019 and Euro Truck Simulator.
And while his competitive side is still firmly on show, the streams have also allowed those watching to see a different side of the 22-year-old.
“I can show a bit more of my real self, which I maybe struggle to do a bit more at the [real] races because with the pressure and things like this, things are different,” he was quoted by The Race.
“Streaming on Twitch was something I definitely did not expect to enjoy and I never saw myself doing that, but actually I really enjoyed it and I think for the people that follow me it is the closest that you can get to the real me.
“At the moment my main priority is to try and entertain the people at home,” Leclerc added. “Also keeping myself entertained, and try to train on the simulator.
“I’m mostly thinking about this, what ideas I can come up with to try and help the people that are home, bored, that don’t have the chance as I do to have a simulator here – to try and put a smile on their face.
“I think it has worked pretty well with the things we’ve been doing with George [Russell], Alex [Albon], Nicholas [Latifi] and all the other F1 drivers involved.”
Certainly, it’s fair to say Lando Norrix has plenty of competition as F1’s top streamer.
