Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc persisted in their lighthearted “sticker war” in the lead-up to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, and even Lando Norris joined in on the team-based destabilization.
Red Bull, Ferrari, and McLaren have been involved in a lighthearted but competitive “sticker war” this season wherein they have put team stickers on one other’s vehicles and even on the drivers themselves.
Once more, this playful altercation was witnessed in Abu Dhabi, but not before Verstappen, the three-time world champion, was shaken up by his suspicious opponents.
Leclerc catches Verstappen
Verstappen put Red Bull stickers on Leclerc’s overalls, but the Ferrari driver responded in kind.
But the friendship didn’t end there. During the parade, Verstappen’s deft maneuver of sticking a sticker on Lando Norris’ back left drivers speechless.
The humor, though, was short-lived as the drivers quickly focused on the race, with Ferrari and Mercedes battling it out for second place in the constructors’ title.
Despite Leclerc’s cunning attempt to provide Sergio Perez an advantage over George Russell, which would have seen the Italians finish in second place, Mercedes ultimately prevailed in that struggle.
Although’stickergate’ may have ended in 2023, it is highly likely to recur in 2024.
