F1 | Leclerc has raised the level: now he speaks the same language as Verstappen

First Veratappen and second Leclerc at the finish line in Jeddah, separated by half a second. And after a fabulous battle. The two drivers speak the same language, that of the most instinctive and luminous talent, at times they even seem to think in the same way, when as former kart drivers used to racing wheel to wheel they nail in a mirror image so as not to give up the DRS advantage to their rival.

Yet Leclerc and Verstappen are so similar but also so different. Verstappen is a fury, he is impetuous, aggressive in every situation (yesterday in the chase with the F1-75 he was about to run aground against the wall with his front left), far too polemical on the radio (he must have dreamed about the white line at night) . Leclerc currently appears radically different.

In this wonderful start to the season, the Ferrari driver seems to have left behind the excesses of previous years; Leclerc's great limitation had always been that of being guilty of a certain impetuosity, of being impulsive, of probably exceeding in generosity. But with a car on the tracks, perfect in corners, powerful, stable, the Monegasque is proving to be an ice-cold, calculating, lucid driver.

And when he races like this, as in Saudi Arabia, building a victory piece by piece that probably took away the unexpected intervention of the virtual safety car, he doesn't seem to pay for those two, three, years of experience compared to Verstappen and not even the less world championship on the notice board.

In fact, Leclerc seems to really enjoy giving the Dutch champion a face-to-face, speaking with him the language of champions, it is no coincidence that the close encounters of these two first world championship events, however intense and even risky, were characterized by great fairness and a general sense of loyalty. There is respect between the two, as demonstrated by the mutual compliments at the end of the race and a certain gesture. Clues that do not at all correspond to the narrative on the sporting hatred that would exist between these two terrible born in '97.

This 1 F2022, with a Ferrari back at the top and very strong in grip and traction and a Red Bull masterful in having interpreted the ground effect - thus allowing itself to unload the wings of the RB18 to the full advantage of speed on the straights - is taking the lead physiognomy of a novel with an unwritten and completely unpredictable ending.

We have two great drivers, two very fast cars with different philosophy, all seasoned with the enthusiasm of those who want to win and that of those who yearn for the noblest world championship reconfirmation. Verstappen dreams of Ferrari's scalp after that of Mercedes, Leclerc runs with fire inside, but manages to control it with the coldness of a new Raikkonen. It's a show.

Antonino Rendina

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