Charles Leclerc (16) leads Max Verstappen (1) on track during the 2024 F1 Brazilian Grand Prix. (Photo by Lars Baron - Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images)
Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen had an intense wheel-to-wheel battle with one another at the Brazilian GP. After winning the race, Verstappen praised the Monegasque for his defensive skills in the cooldown room as well.
The Red Bull star had a rollercoaster of a weekend at Interlagos. He qualified P12 after Lance Stroll's crash that brought out the red flag in Q2. Later, he received a five-place grid penalty for a new power unit element, which knocked him down to P17.
At the start of Sunday's Grand Prix, Max Verstappen tried to gain as many places as he could in the early stages of the race. Though he successfully overtook a few drivers, he faced a fierce challenge while approaching Charles Leclerc. The two battled for P5 on Lap 22. Verstappen came around the outside of Leclerc on turn 1 and went side by side with him till the start of turn 2.
