You look at any other F1 rivalry like Fangio-Ascari, Clark-Hill, Lauda-Hunt, Villeneuve-Pironi, Prost-Senna, Hakkinen-Schumacher, even Hamilton-Rosberg, they don't automatically evoke a sense of romance. Fierce competition, yes. Close friendships too.
But nothing like these two. Leclrec-Verstappen is quite something else. Born 16 days apart, similar motorsports trajectories, fierce rivals in Karting, Max almost manifesting Charles entry into F1 through sheer belief in the latter's prowess, even fiercer competition in F1, hitting really rough patches on track, never real friends but now neither seems to get through an interview without the mention of the other.
Max will fight everyone on track if they crowd him but when it is Charles, it is all giggles. Same for Charlie giggling at Max not lifting and almost getting caught out at a brief yellow flag, while behind Leclrec.
At Spa 2026, Charles doing his bit of manifestation with his "last lap of any race I want to race Max". Post race, Max really laughing about Red Rocket. Cooldown room, Max going "it was calculated" about Charles bumping into Oscar.
The other rivalries had pretty straightforward archs, - on track real fights, off track either friends or couldn't care less. Brocedes went from friends to rivals to can't stand each other to cordial.
Lestappen is enemies to mutual respect but there is the constant yapping, turning everyone into third wheel, "My Max", "Charlie, I have a spot for you", "Yes, Monaco", their eyes always following each other, the deep looks, Max always pulling Charles closer, the Las Vegas 2023 car trip with Checo looking like "somebody let me out".
Couple of race cooldowns ago, Charles' face a stark contrast to George's smiley one when they saw Max's crash. Even George had the decency to sober up. Austin 2025, lestappen side eye for Lando. And who can forget the "Tyre massage" impromptu interview. Max beckons Charles, who hops over big grin on his face. Then is himself taken aback like "what did I just do?" 🤣
These two are not beating the "Red String of Fate" allegations, anytime soon!