Leclerc shows why he has potential to challenge for F1 title

It took three laps for Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc to show why he is a potential Formula One title contender, heading into this weekend's Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

Sure, the slick driver from Monaco won the season-opener in Bahrain last Sunday in style: from pole position and with the fastest lap.

But what really stood out was the way he went toe-to-toe with world champion Max Verstappen — his former teen rival from their karting days — and came out on top.

Verstappen overtook him three times on Laps 17-19, only for Leclerc to show poise, control and aggression to win his place back on each occasion.

There wasn't a hint of panic, despite who he was up against. Leclerc now tops the driver standings on 26 points, with teammate Carlos Sainz Jr. second on 18.

“We are in the mix to fight for the title, it’s amazing,” Leclerc said. "We are both very happy to have a car capable of winning. And we will fight for it for sure.”

Ferrari hadn't won a race since Leclerc's victory on the Italian manufacturer's home track in Monza in 2019, the year he led F1 for pole positions 7-5 ahead of Hamilton.

In 2020, Ferrari went into freefall.

Leclerc was eighth overall, Sebastian Vettel was 13th, and proud Ferrari was sixth in the constructors' championship — trailing Mercedes by 442 points.

Ferrari's gleaming red is catching the eye, but team principal Mattia Binotto thinks Red Bull has the edge.

“They are still the favorites,” he said.

Yet Verstappen already has 26 points to make up on Leclerc.

Last weekend's late-race meltdown in Bahrain saw Red Bull score zero. Verstappen and Sergio Perez where in second and fourth place nearing the end but retired because of a fuel pump issue.

The season wasn't meant to start this way, with