Horner loving ‘phenomenal’ Verstappen and Leclerc rivalry and talks up ‘respect’ for Ferrari after Mercedes animosity

RED BULL boss Christian Horner is buzzing over the rivalry between "fantastic young drivers" Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc.

Verstappen, 24, snatched a dramatic late win from his counterpart in the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on Sunday.


It was a repeat of the excitement we saw in this season's opening race in Bahrain as the Dutchman traded blows with Leclerc.

First Verstappen took the lead on lap 43 before Leclerc snatched back P1 a few corners later.

There was a repeat on the following lap as they both exchanged positions. It was fair, respectful and had everyone on their seats.

And the team principal Horner spoke to Sky Sports about the young rivalry.

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He said: "I think you're seeing two fantastic young drivers that have raced each other probably from when they were about 10 or 11 going head to head in two very competitive Formula 1 cars."

"The racing in these first two races has been phenomenal.

"You can see there's a respect between the two of them and these cars seem to be easier to follow and race each other with.

"The sample from the first two races has been really exciting."

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The pair were incredibly born less than a month apart.

And Verstappen has revealed how he finally got past Leclerc to keep up the pressure on the F1 championship leader – with some "smart tricks in the last corner".

Ferrari are back in the game and everyone seems to be lapping up the battle between them and Red Bull at the front of the grid.

Horner said: "Racing Ferrari is always slightly different.

"They're such a long-standing team in Formula 1 and it's not perhaps some of the animosities that had grown between our other rivals.

"They're a great team, they've got great drivers.

"Mercedes are going to be bouncing back soon, I've got no doubt about that.

"We have to focus on ourselves and keep evolving and developing this car."

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