Should we expect a duel for the title between Leclerc and Verstappen?

Facts : With a victory each, Charles Leclerc et Max Verstappen dominated the first two Grands Prix of the season. Above all, the clashes between the two pilots in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia left their mark, making them already the two favorites for the title of this 2022 exercise. Should we expect a duel for the title between Leclerc and Verstappen?

ALSO READ > VIDEO – The new duel between Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen

YES, by Medhi Casaurang-Vergez

Even though the calendar is jam-packed with 23 rounds, and we've only seen two events so far, a real trend is emerging at the top of the operations. Indeed, both in Bahrain and in Saudi Arabia, victory could only be decided between Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen. Their race pace is much better than that of their respective companions within the Team (Carlos Sainz Jr) and Red Bull (Sergio Pérez). Certainly, the two Hispanics can compete on a flying lap, but on an effort of 1h30, it's a different story.

We saw this clearly in Jeddah. Despite the pole position snatched by Sergio Pérez, the Mexican did not leave anyone behind at the start of the effort. However, once he passed the pits and came out behind the Leclerc-Verstappen duo, he could only watch the two cars escape. Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen experienced the end of the Saudi Arabian GP on another planet, exchanging lap records. In addition, Christian Horner, the main team of Red Bull, will ensure that Sergio Pérez does not cut any corners from his favorite Max Verstappen. The Dutchman is a product of the energy drink sector and this will last for some time. Sergio Pérez was hired to play the role of number 2 and was in no way shaped by the Austrian company during his career.

For his part, Mattia Binotto has not yet clarified the positions between friends Leclerc and Sainz Jr, but the track is playing its revealing role. The Madrilenian is fast and reliable, of course, but he lacks that little grain of madness and that vision which can take him to elbows against a shark like Max Verstappen. And then, he is not yet completely comfortable with his mount; Charles Leclerc already seems in symbiosis with the F1-75. As soon as the housekeeping is done internally, who could put in a grain of salt? 

Carlos Sainz is the first outsider behind the Leclerc-Verstappen duo (Photo DPPI)

NO, by Valentin Glo

It was difficult not to hide one's enthusiasm in front of this exciting round-trip match between Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen in Sakhir then Jeddah. The two prodigies of the new generation displayed the full range of the great drivers that they are, competing lap after lap in speed, recklessness and even mischief, that they made people forget that they are not even 25 years. Above all, their fight has already eclipsed the competition. Should we bury it anyway? No. In the first row of outsiders, Carlos Sainz showed himself solid to reach the podium twice in as many rounds and is for the moment still inserted between the two duellists in the Drivers' standings.

His flawless consistency for a year and a half (no retirement since his arrival at Ferrari, his last date was the 2020 Russian Grand Prix with McLaren) makes him a driver not to be dismissed too quickly from the title race, since he could take advantage of situations where the two rivals in front of him leave a few feathers at the side of the track, which will probably happen during the 21 Grands Prix still to be argue. Sergio Pérez cannot be ruled out either, despite two first races falling short of those mentioned above. The Mexican proved with his pole position in Saudi Arabia that he could also get the most out of his Red Bull. He would probably have been on the podium twice if he hadn't had bad luck (reliability problem and Safety Car at the wrong time).

Et Mercedes In all of this ? The German team has been in great difficulty since the start of the year and is probably not thinking about its title chances in its current position. Despite all its misfortunes, the Brackley team is still in second place in the manufacturers' standings and has managed to place its two cars in the points each time. Despite his apparent blues, Lewis Hamilton showed resilience this Sunday in Jeddah to climb back into the top 10 and the reigning eight-time world champion team will not capitulate so easily in an exercise where the hierarchy could quickly evolve.