“Unforgettable Overtake: Jeremy Clarkson Raves About Leclerc’s Thrilling Dutch GP Maneuver!”
In the electrifying world of Formula 1, few moments capture the adrenaline rush of racing like Charles Leclerc’s breathtaking overtaking maneuver during the recent Dutch Grand Prix. Renowned F1 enthusiast and celebrity Jeremy Clarkson has hailed this audacious move as “THE overtake” of the 2025 season, drawing parallels between Leclerc and the legendary Ferrari driver Gilles Villeneuve.
The defining moment unfolded on Lap 32 at Zandvoort when Leclerc executed an incredible late-braking maneuver to slip past George Russell at the chicane. As the Ferrari driver stormed into the right-hand entry, he completed the daring pass at the subsequent left-hander, making slight contact with Russell’s car in the process. This thrilling move did not escape the attention of the FIA stewards, who launched an investigation into the incident but ultimately decided against taking any further action.
A key excerpt from the stewards’ report stated, “We also looked into whether Car 16 remained on the track or left the track at Turn 12. The available evidence was inconclusive as to whether Car 16 left the track. Both team representatives were in agreement that there was no clear evidence that Car 16 had left the track.” Both drivers, feeling it was a racing incident, agreed that no additional consequences were warranted.
Clarkson, left utterly speechless by Leclerc’s audacity, took to social media to express his admiration, exclaiming: “Leclerc. Holy s**t. That’s proper racing.” When a fan suggested that this daring overtaking was one of the season’s finest, Clarkson decisively replied, “THE overtake.” Drawing a nostalgic comparison to the late Villeneuve, who tragically passed away in 1982 but left behind an indelible mark on the sport, Clarkson stated, “Exactly. That was pure Gilles. So cool.”
However, the day took a turn for Leclerc, who ultimately retired from the race after colliding with Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Russell’s teammate, at the notorious banked Turn 3. Clarkson’s reaction to Antonelli’s aggressive move was less than favorable, pointing out, “Antonelli is a teenager.”
In a post-race media conference, Leclerc candidly acknowledged the risks associated with his move on Russell, stating it was “on the limit,” but emphasized his commitment to maintaining an aggressive approach in the championship battle. “It was aggressive, but we’re fighting for a place in the championship for the constructors’ especially. For the driver standings, I don’t really care, so I will always be aggressive like that. It was on the limit, but I knew I wouldn’t have many opportunities after that. He defended the inside, I went for the outside. I don’t think he expected me to go for the outside. And then he did the corner just like if I wasn’t there, so then we touched.”
Reflecting on his collision with Antonelli, Leclerc described it as a mistake, asserting, “It’s a mistake from Kimi. I think you’ve got to be very aggressive on a track like this to overtake, which I think he tried – to be aggressive. Maybe it was a bit too much and he went on to touch my rear left and that was the end of my race, so it’s disappointing.”
When questioned if he considered it a rookie blunder by Antonelli, he responded thoughtfully, “I wouldn’t describe it as a rookie mistake. I think it’s just a mistake, which can happen in the first year or the fifth year of a driver’s career. And again, as I said, on a track like this, you need to be aggressive. But that was too much.”
As the dust settles on this thrilling race, one thing is clear: Leclerc’s bold move has etched itself into the annals of F1 history, capturing the hearts of fans and critics alike, while setting the stage for an exhilarating championship battle ahead!