Red Bull’s No.1 driver intentions ‘very clear, very early’

Will the 2022 cars struggle around Monaco?

Torquing Point: Monaco Grand Prix preview

Are Mercedes set to join title fight?

Monaco Grand Prix predictions

Torquing Point: Daniel Ricciardo 5.5/10 - Spanish GP Driver Ratings

Torquing Point: Ferrari have wasted their strong start to the season - Spanish GP Conclusions

While Ferrari insists there is no number one driver, at least not yet, Charles Leclerc says Red Bull have made their choice “very clear” and they’re backing Max Verstappen “early” in the season.

Last time out at the Spanish Grand Prix, Verstappen clinched his third successive win and his fourth of the season after his team-mate Sergio Perez was told to move over.

Although Red Bull had the 1-2 in the bag, only reliability could have cost them, they still decide to hand the win to Verstappen.

He took the lead in the Drivers’ Championship by six points over Leclerc, while Perez made it known that he felt that call from Red Bull was “unfair”.

But while Red Bull have made their decision, and have made it well known, Ferrari are still sitting on the fence.

“I don’t know honestly,” Leclerc told Motorsport.com when asked about Ferrari’s pecking order. “I’m not the one who makes such decisions either, maybe you should ask Mattia about this.

“In any case, Red Bull made the intentions very clear and they did that early in the season.

“As far as our situation is concerned, I don’t know. I haven’t talked to Mattia about it and I haven’t heard anything about it yet.”

For now it is on Leclerc to do the job himself as he takes on Verstappen for the World title.

“To be honest, I don’t feel any extra pressure or greater responsibility within the team because of that,” he said.

“Last year I also had a big responsibility to get a