Gidget Alikpala

THE NEXT BIG F1 RIVALRY

Max Verstappen-Charles Leclerc

Defending world champion Max Verstappen and Ferrari's Charles Leclerc have been making Formula 1 even more exciting.

The battle of the 24-year-olds has been taking centerstage in the races, infusing new life into the competition.

Charles Leclerc started 2022 strong, winning the Bahrain Grand Prix ahead of Carlos Sainz in a Ferrari 1-2 finish.

Verstappen got the lead mid-race, but was eventually forced to bow out towards the end after his car lost power.

Leclerc recorded the fastest lap of the race and left Bahrain with 26 points, while Verstappen ended up with none.

At the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in March, the Dutchman got the chance to exact his revenge.

The two had an exciting wheel-to-wheel tussle, but Verstappen prevailed and took home his first trophy of the year.

Leclerc showed his respect by congratulating his rival over the team radio, saying “Well done to Max.”

After the race, both drivers expressed their enjoyment of it even as they acknowledged its difficulty.

The back-and-forth continues: Leclerc won the cup in Australia in April, then Verstappen won later that month in Italy.

The two young drivers now have a developing rivalry that dates back to their time in go-kart racing.

This season will show whether the competition will continue to be friendly, or if it will become a little more fierce.

Follow all the latest racing news on AS USA