Nico Rosberg: Friendly rivalry between Red Bull's Max Verstappen and Ferrari's Charles Leclerc won't last
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Updated 24/07/2022 at 11:51 GMT
Former Formula One world champion Nico Rosberg shares something in common with Max Verstappen: an awkward competitive relationship with Lewis Hamilton. Rosberg suggested that Verstappen and his erstwhile kart driving competitor Charles Leclerc may soon their own relationship come under similar pressure.
Pole position qualifier Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing and Second placed qualifier Charles Leclerc of Monaco and Ferrari shake hands in parc ferme during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Emilia Romagna at Autodromo En
Image credit: Getty Images
Nico Rosberg believes that Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen could soon see their respectful relationship start to come under pressure.
Leclerc and Verstappen grew up competing against one another on the karting circuit and both have acknowledged that the knowledge they share of one another allows them to compete without tempers boiling over, and with a notable absence of on-track contact.
The same could not be said of the Red Bull driver and his previous direct rival, Lewis Hamilton, with the pair sharing an antipathy for much of the past two years.
However, former world champion Rosberg believes Verstappen and the Ferrari man may soon find themselves at odds.
"I highly recommend everybody to tune in because I do foresee a great fight once again, as we’ve seen in almost every race, upfront between Leclerc and Verstappen,” he told Sky Sports.
"Red Bull have the advantage of having Perez there as well, whereas Sainz is way back, so maybe Red Bull could use Perez strategically to help Verstappen jump Leclerc.
"There are going to be some different strategies in play. Ferrari, we know, have issues with their tyre degradation so it’s going to be a really tough one for Leclerc to bring this home today.
"These guys have been going wheel-to-wheel all season and at some point, there’s going to be that first contact and the first heated discussion happening… maybe that will be today as well!?"
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