F1 News 2023: Max Verstappen-Sergio Perez title feud, and Lewis Hamilton-Charles LeClerc rumours

After only four races, the F1 has become Red Bull’s playground. But there’s still a bitter race to the finish line for two of the sport’s biggest names - with one star ‘muzzled’ as battle heats up.

On the move? Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc have a chat. Picture: Getty

Red Bull boss Christian Horner has given Sergio Perez his blessing to fight Max Verstappen for the Formula One world championship – but only while it suits the team’s interests.

Street circuit specialist Perez took the chequered flag in Baku on Sunday night after outpacing two-time reigning world championVerstappen – closing the gap to his Red Bull teammate atop the standings.

Verstappen and Perez have traded wins so far this season and there looks to be no car on the grid that can challenge Red Bullat this early stage.

It makes for what looks to be a two-horse race for the 2023 title and though many anticipate Verstappen will pull away from his teammate, Perez has so far kept the battle honest.

“There’s six points between them after four races so yeah, they’re both competitive drivers,” Horner said at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

Sergio Perez (L) and and Red Bull teammate, Max Verstappen (R), are locked in a battle for this year’s title. Picture: Getty

“They both want to win, which is why they’re employed by the team. And I think that it’s down to what they do on the track.They were free to race (in Baku) and, all year so far, they’ve been free.

“(That will continue) until the team’s interests – if you’re competing against a competitor – becomes bigger than the drivers’ interests. But, as it is at the moment, they’re free to race.”

Perez made it six career Grand Prix victories with his win in Baku and all of them have come on street circuits.

There are a further four street tracks to run on the 2023 calendar – Miami, Monaco, Singapore and Las Vegas – and it’s withinthose concrete canyons that fans of Perez expect he can challenge Verstappen for more victories.

How well he can match his teammate on the traditional circuits will likely be the deciding factor in how long the Mexican’schallenge lasts.

The pair celebrated Perez’s win in Azerbaijan together - before the Mexican was seemingly muzzled over a championship title fight. Picture: AFP

Perez was seemingly muzzled by Red Bull after his Saudi Arabia Grand Prix victory, when he edited a tweet to remove his declaration of a title challenge.

But the Mexican put it back on the agenda after his stirring victory in Baku.

“Having three kids at home, I wouldn’t be travelling around the world if I didn’t believe that I could be a world champion,” he said.

“I’m working towards that, but obviously, there is so much you can talk (about) outside the car, and I think it’s importantto deliver on the track.

“I think without the issues we had in qualifying in Melbourne, we should be leading the championship.

“So definitely there is (every reason) to believe we can do well this year.

“I’m fighting for it (the championship). But I also know that it’s a long, massive road ahead. So I need to keep my head downand just keep delivering.”

Red Bull Racing boss Christian Horner has weighed in on the title battle between his two stars. Picture: Getty

Horner said Red Bull’s key focus was to build its lead atop both championship standings before F1 returns to Europe, at whichpoint he expects rival teams to have significant upgrades planned.

“At the moment it’s the two of them (Verstappen and Perez),” Horner said.

“There’s a slight gap between the rest of the field, but there’s 19 more races to go and five sprint races.

“There’s a huge amount of racing and a whole variance of different circuits to go through, so it could ebb and flow betweenthe two of them.

“Reliability will be a key factor and what we’re more focused on as well at the moment is building a buffer with both of thedrivers because when we get back to Europe, I’m sure there’s going to be sizeable upgrades (for other teams).

“We have a reduced capacity to develop this year, so that’s where our focus is – trying to build a gap.”

MERC BOSS’ TELLING ADMISSION AS LECLERC RUMOURS SWIRL

Toto Wolff has announced a shock career move amid Mercedes’ struggles on the track, as the F1 team’s chief admitted Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was on his ‘radar’.

For the last two-and-half years, Mercedes have played second fiddle to Red Bull and Dutch phenom Max Verstappen – leading to questions around the future of F1 legend Lewis Hamilton.

Which leads us to Leclerc.

The Ferrari driver insists there have not been any discussions with Mercedes, but the whispers are growing louder that he could be on the move – having established himself as one of the sport’s best drivers.

On the move? Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc have a chat. Picture: Getty

When quizzed on the team’s interest, and discussions, with Leclerc, Wolff said: “The only time I talked with him is when we discussed where the gate is in Melbourne to board the plane.

“Charles is a super guy and for the long-term future someone you have to have on your radar but not for the short and medium term.”

But in the short-term, at least, Wolff’s main focus is trying to convince seven-time world champion Hamilton to extend his time at Mercedes.

“Nobody doubts Charles’ ability and he is a good guy,” he said.

“He is 100 per cent committed to Ferrari and we are 100 per cent committed to putting pen to paper with Lewis.”

Meanwhile, Wolff has also had one eye on educating university students in America.

It was announced this week that Wolff will teach an MBA course at Harvard’s prestigious Business School.

Wolff – who recently became a billionaire – has now become an Executive Fellow and guest lecturer at the Ivy League school.

Originally published as F1 News 2023: Max Verstappen-Sergio Perez title feud, and Lewis Hamilton-Charles LeClerc rumours