Is Max Verstappen Charles Leclerc’s Biggest Fan? F1 Twitter Gives Four Recent ‘Lestappen’ Moments to Prove This

F1 fans have noted four recent instances that seem to suggest that Max Verstappen is Charles Leclerc’s biggest fan. The Dutchman and the Monegasque’s relationship has significantly improved since their karting days, a time when things were extremely tense between them.

The relationship between Leclerc and Verstappen during their childhood was so strained that both drivers went as far as admitting to disliking each other. However, things have improved significantly since then.

Recently, both have often been seen having playful conversations with each other and praising each other for their driving on the track. The respect between the two seems to have grown immensely. F1 fans have now affectionately labeled their current bonding as ‘Lestappen‘.

Is Max Verstappen Charles Leclerc’s biggest fan?

Verstappen was all praises for Leclerc in Baku

Max Verstappen is usually not an individual that goes out of the way to praise another rival. Most of his praises usually come when he is put in a position to comment on another driver’s performance.

However, if there is one driver that Verstappen seemingly makes an extra effort to compliment, then that is Charles Leclerc. An F1 fan has noted four instances when Verstappen made a reference to Leclerc just in the last few weeks.

The Dutchman’s biggest praise for Leclerc came at this year’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix when he revealed how it was barely any surprise to see the Monegasque perform so well at the Baku Street Circuit.

When asked if he was surprised to see the pace of Leclerc after he got pole, Verstappen replied, “Not really of Charles. We know that he has been really good around here. Otherwise, you do not get three poles in a row right“?

Verstappen remembers Leclerc during a podcast

The second picture that the F1 fan posted is from the Pardon My Take podcast earlier this year. During the podcast, Max Verstappen was asked to name an individual in the United States that he did not know of until later.

In reply, the Dutchman hilariously said, “Chuck. Chuck Leclerc. You know Chuck“? The Red Bull driver was making a reference to the 25-year-old, who was hilariously referred to as Chuck by an F1 interviewer during the 2022 Miami Grand Prix instead of Charles.

When it comes to the third image that the F1 fan posted, Verstappen was asked if he remembers the helmet in the photo. The 25-year-old was quick to respond that he remembers it was Leclerc’s helmet as they grew up racing each other.

Verstappen recreates the infamous ‘inchident‘ moment during sim racing

Max Verstappen has often kept himself busy playing simulator racing with his friends and even streams them on social media. While doing so, he and his mates have made several references to Charles Leclerc. They made it seem that they are almost ‘obsessed‘ with the Monegasque driver.

Among all the references that were made, perhaps the most notable and hilarious one was the ‘inchident‘ reference. The infamous ‘inchident‘ moment took place during their karting days in 2012 when Leclerc and Verstappen collided on track.

While Verstappen was fuming after the incident, Leclerc just hilariously labeled it as an ‘inchident‘. It is this iconic moment that the Dutchman hilariously referred to in streaming session with his friends while playing simulator racing.