Verstappen Praises Leclerc's 'Heart-Out' Drive as Title Hopes Fade
Verstappen acknowledged Leclerc's relentless Abu Dhabi GP effort that nearly cost Norris the title, citing tire strategies that thwarted his own race manipulation attempts. The Dutchman lost his crown by 2 points, ending his No.1 era as he weighs 2026 car number options.
Max Verstappen highlighted Charles Leclerc's determined Abu Dhabi Grand Prix performance after the Ferrari driver's podium challenge nearly derailed Lando Norris's championship hopes. Though Leclerc ultimately finished seven seconds off the podium, Verstappen admitted the Monegasque racer "drove his heart out" in a bid that could have delivered Verstappen a fifth consecutive title had Norris been overtaken.
Why it matters:
Verstappen's rare public praise for a rival underscores the high-stakes drama of F1's season finale while revealing strategic vulnerabilities in title-deciding scenarios. His acknowledgment that tire strategies neutralized his influence highlights how rule changes and team tactics increasingly limit individual driver control over championship outcomes—a critical factor as F1 tightens competition.
The details:
- Leclerc aggressively pressured Norris for third place in early laps, forcing the McLaren driver into defensive maneuvers that briefly opened the door for Verstappen's title hopes.
- Verstappen confirmed he explored multiple race manipulation tactics but abandoned them due to Oscar Piastri's hard-tire start compound and widespread two-stop strategies across the field.
- "We were probably a bit too quick up front," Verstappen noted, explaining how his Red Bull's pace prevented effective pace-setting to bunch the field.
- The Yas Marina circuit's revised layout further complicated slowdown attempts, making it "harder to do that compared to 2016."
- Leclerc's effort marked one of his strongest performances of 2024 despite Ferrari's inconsistent season, finishing just outside the points-scoring positions.
What's next:
Verstappen's narrow two-point championship loss to Norris ends his four-year reign as world champion and concludes his tenure with the coveted No. 1 on his car—a symbolic shift for F1's recent dominant force.
- The Dutchman revealed he's actively considering alternative car numbers for 2026, breaking from tradition where champions typically retain No. 1. Potential choices could reference his championship count (No. 4) or personal significance (No. 33).
- This decision carries psychological weight in F1's superstitious culture, where drivers like Lewis Hamilton (No. 44) and Sebastian Vettel (No. 5) maintained signature numbers throughout careers.
- Norris's impending No. 1 debut next season will spotlight how effectively McLaren can defend the title—a challenge only three teams have managed since 2010.
The episode reinforces F1's evolving narrative where driver rivalries increasingly hinge on split-second strategic calculations rather than pure speed. As Verstappen transitions from champion to challenger, his willingness to publicly credit rivals like Leclerc may signal a maturation phase for the sport's most polarizing figure.