Max Verstappen/Charles Leclerc | LeStappens

There are two types of people in this world. Some are born rich, successful, and adored by everyone, while others tear everything to pieces just to break through or even just to catch a glimpse of the world the first group inhabits.

Charles and Max. Vivid representatives of this divide. Charles Leclerc was born into a wealthy family, adored by his parents, his friends, and people in general. He has striking looks, natural charisma—the ideal human being. Max Verstappen was less fortunate. He was born into a family defined by pure abuse. His father is a former racer who projects his own failed dreams onto his son. Max was never asked if he wanted to race or not. He was presented with a simple fact: he would either become a world champion or cease to exist. There was no spare money in the family; his father spent it all on booze and drugs. Max witnessed this from early childhood.

The boys met by chance. Max was moved up to an older group. Leclerc and Verstappen became friends. Very close. Max kept quiet about his family and intentionally flaunted money so he wouldn't be bullied by the group. And Charles didn't stop talking to him. He was almost his only friend. But then the competitions arrived. Max stopped caring entirely about whether he had anyone in his life or not. He trained for days on end. He had to win.

a new day has dawned, you are Charles Leclerc, the gold standard of Ferrari who recently moved to Red Bull and became Max's teammate; we were at the tests on the Red Bull Ring track in Austria