Max Verstappen moved through two more teammates in the 2025 F1 season, with Liam Lawson lasting just two races, and Yuki Tsunoda then being demoted to a reserve role.
Tsunoda’s performances fell short, with Verstappen outqualifying him in 53 of their 55 head-to-head sessions (when both cars were classified), averaging seven-tenths quicker across the year.
Sergio Perez left Red Bull after losing heavily to Verstappen. Before him, Alex Albon had faced a similar exit.
The pattern has become clear enough that even Perez remarked there might not be a driver who could hold up under those conditions. Isack Hadjar will be next in line after an impressive rookie campaign.
Charles Leclerc believed to be capable of matching Verstappen in equal cars
Speaking to Quotidiano Nazionale, former F1 driver Riccardo Patrese suggested that Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc is the one driver who could go toe-to-toe with Verstappen in the same machinery.
Lando Norris may have won the title in a dominant McLaren, but Leclerc still managed seven podiums and nearly 250 points despite a fundamentally flawed SF-25.
He also outqualified Hamilton 19-5 and beat him 18-3 across races where both drivers finished. When asked about that record, Patrese said:
“Where’s the surprise? Even if the new champion is called Norris, the only driver around who, with the same car, could compete with Verstappen, who is an absolute phenomenon, is none other than Carletto.”
“He’s always playing it safe because it’s Scuderia’s fault that he never had the right equipment. Charles is hungry for success; I understand his frustration. The few times he makes mistakes are because of his tremendous desire.”
Could Ferrari pair Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen in 2027?
Verstappen has long admired Leclerc, a respect that dates back to their early karting days. And there’s an outside chance they could end up teammates in 2027.
Ferrari have shown interest in bringing Verstappen on board, but the bigger challenge might be keeping Leclerc. He’s already made it clear his patience is wearing thin as he nears his eighth season without a car capable of challenging for titles.
Hadjar has noticed that Verstappen tends to race more cautiously against Leclerc, likely because the Monegasque understands his style better than most after so many battles over the years.
A pairing between these two could be one of the most intriguing lineups F1 has ever seen.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
