Stairing against Leclerc, the new generation in the title race

Max stapping and Charles Leclec hardly knew where to go with her surplus of adrenaline and euphoria. Inflammatory from the exciting final-round thriller of Jidda, the new World Cup dual fighters of Formula 1 were equal to the next duels. "Every race should be like that," said World Cup leader Leclerc, although he was gasty as second behind the world champion to the goal of Saudi Arabia. But the minimum residue of 0.5 seconds and the strength of his Ferrari showed the middle of the middle and the rest of the world that this rivalry could shape the season.

• Already to kart times, both competitive duels provided
• The "New Königsdieell"
• The 13 years older Hamilton does not play a role in the title race

Already to kart times, both competitive duels provided

As "cool and really hard" Red-Bull Star described the gripping beating exchange with Leclerc, where they went to the limit with all tactical tricks. From a poison duel, as the Dutch had also delivered almost four months earlier at the same place with Lewis Hamilton, both did not want to know anything. "We have a lot of respect for each other, that's important, so we have these good fighting," said stages.

Leclerc felt promptly reminiscent of common kart times in youth. "There we had great duels. We grew up together, that helped us to develop our way," said the 24-year-old. Already at the kick-off in Bahrain, the lap-long breaking exchange of the duo had electrified the fans before the world champion was stopped by a technical defect.

The "New Königsdieell"

Now LECLERC and stages seem to make a dramatic series from the wheel-to-wheel rackets. "I would not have believed after the last year that there is an increase - and we now have now," wrapped Red-Bull MotorsportChef Helmut Marko at the TV channel "Sky". "Formula 1 has a new king duel", the Swiss "view" full of anticipation.

20 points lead to stages takes Leclerc with the third season race in Australia in two weeks. Team College Carlos Sainz ranks as a World Cup second between the two. "Of course I'm pretty happy with the start, but there will definitely come more," Leclerc said. Ferrari has released from the molding hole after two years and the control reform with completely new cars perfectly used.

But can the Scuderia be the pace of Red Bull and stages also go through the long-distance? In 2017 and 2018, the Italians with Sebastian Vettel already had the strongest car, marriage in the race of the engineers Mercedes won the upper hand. "We have improved our tools since then and are much better prepared," Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto assured. "That will be the key, we have to give everything," warned Leclerc.

The 13 years older Hamilton does not play a role in the title race

Then the World Cup leaders also spoke to a man from the soul, who suddenly threatens to the edge figure after eight rushing years. Record world champion Lewis Hamilton is suspended with Mercedes for the time being. The hope of title number eight could burst early. "Victories feel very far away," the 37-year-old complained of his ride on an unfortunate tenth place in Jedda.

Mercedes currently have "everywhere deficits", well-known team boss Toto Wolff. "But the season is still incredibly long," the Austrian added fighting.