CHARLES LECLERC AND MAX VERSTAPPEN TO CRASH AT THE JAPANESE GRAND PRIX?

By Alicia Hullott

The likelihood of Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen taking each other out on turn 1 is about the same as them taking each other out for dinner. None existent.

Photo: Sky Sports

Yes, that is the headline this week after a screenshot of a comment on the infamous ‘inchident’ video made its rounds on social media. User @/Adrian-kb9uw commented 4 years ago, but it’s only gaining traction now, for obvious reasons.

Granted, there are many possibilities on what could happen this weekend, but can a comment from 4 years ago really predict that? Especially since this person has commended various comments like this with different drivers in different years.

There was a first lap incident back in 2019 at the Japanese GP, where Leclerc and Verstappen collided causing the Red Bull to go off the track. The Ferrari driver received a 15-second time penalty and Verstappen unfortunately DNF'd. The possibility of this happening is, as stated previously, highly unlikely.

A lot of people seeing the comment are hoping it comes true so that they can have a different race winner or Carlos Sainz again. He is looking strong after his surgery and has impressed a lot of people, let’s hope the team principles are taking note of his resurgence, as he is currently without a seat for next year. Another team that could finish on top of the podium is McLaren, how can anyone overlook them? They put up a fight last year against Verstappen and themselves, at a certain point in the race. Oscar Piastri’s Birthday is on Saturday, his home race couldn’t bring him enough luck for a podium finish but maybe his birthday wish will take the form of pole in qualifying.

Red Bull, Ferrari and McLaren are shaping out to be the top three contenders this F1 season, Mercedes seems to have fallen behind but they’re slowly trying to climb back up those steps this season, perhaps not the top set after a double DNF last time out, but maybe the third or second.

We will get a closer look at the cars and how they suit the track this Friday at 3:30am BST.