Leclerc: I can't wait for more Verstappen battles

Charles Leclerc says he “can’t wait” to continue battling Max Verstappen for supremacy in the 2019 Formula 1 season and into the future, where they could be part of the rivalry of the next generation.

In the past two races, Leclerc and Verstappen have provided outstanding entertainment with their hard racing. In Austria, the Dutchman just got the better of the Ferrari driver when he overtook him late on to claim the victory at the Red Bull Ring. In Britain, the duel lasted much longer as the pair went wheel-to-wheel to exchange positions, with Leclerc finishing higher this time.

It has presented the racing which many F1 fans want to see, and Leclerc wants the rivalry to blossom into one for the ages.

"I really hope so," Leclerc responded when asked by BBC Sport if he thinks the rivalry could become the next big thing in F1.

"We had some very good fights in karting that didn't always end in a good manner, but it was fun, good times.

"And I can't wait to have more with him. In the end, we have done most of our career together, so it is fun to find ourselves again here in Formula 1."

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Leclerc is desperate to become F1 world champion at some point, but isn’t getting too ahead of himself, as first he needs to win his first race in the red of Ferrari.

"Well, hopefully the first win to come very soon," he continued.

"And many more after. But at the end the target is the first win now, trying to take the opportunity whenever we have it.

"In the future... my dream as a child was being a world champion. Now I am finally in a team where I think this can be a reality so we need to keep working and hopefully this will happen one day."

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