The Ferrari driver spoke at Zandvoort as the paddock was still digesting the four-time world champion’s new deal, which keeps Verstappen at Red Bull until the end of 2030.
Asked whether he could take anything from how Verstappen has built his career in Milton Keynes, Leclerc gave a two-part answer.
“Max has obviously had an incredible career so far and has won four world championships. I didn’t yet, but I think every situation is different. I think it will be a mistake for me to kind of follow the footsteps of what Max has done and also because I have no idea what Max is doing inside the team in order to get this success,” Leclerc told reporters at the Dutch Grand Prix.
He would rather work with what he can see.
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“Rather than doing that I think I prefer to focus in my own situation in the team trying to focus on the process.”
Verstappen’s fresh Red Bull deal
Verstappen signed a two-year extension on Thursday, taking a contract that had been running to 2028 through to the end of 2030 and settling months of speculation over the performance-related clauses in the previous deal.
“The team is like a second family for me and I feel very at home,” Verstappen said in the team’s announcement.
He also credited team principal Laurent Mekies.
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“Getting to work with Laurent now for over a year has also been great, I see a clear vision he has for the team.”
Mercedes interest and a summer of management upheaval in Milton Keynes had kept the exit talk alive right up to the announcement, The Race reported.
Ferrari’s target is Mercedes
Leclerc’s own numbers explain his framing. After 11 of 24 rounds he sits fourth in the drivers’ championship on 138 points, 81 behind Mercedes leader Kimi Antonelli and 29 ahead of Verstappen in sixth. His Ferrari team-mate Lewis Hamilton is second on 169.
“I think we have a very clear view on where we are as a team and what can we do in order to improve, what are our weaknesses against Mercedes particularly that are the favourites at the moment and where we need to work on,” Leclerc said.
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Zandvoort’s F1 farewell
Sunday’s race at Zandvoort is the last Dutch Grand Prix on the current F1 calendar after the promoter and Formula 1 decided not to renew beyond this season. Verstappen nodded to the setting when the deal was announced, calling it “a great moment for me” that his extension had been confirmed during the final Zandvoort weekend.
