Leclerc defeats Latifi in one-on-one battle

Jamie Woodhouse
CharlesLeclercPA

Charles Leclerc defeats Nicholas Latifi in Esports Versus event.

The second Veloce Esports Versus event saw Charles Leclerc defeat fellow Formula 1 driver Nicholas Latifi.

Leclerc and Latifi went head-to-head in single-lap races with Leclerc winning out in a best of three rounds at Silverstone in the final.

Both drivers won a round each, but the second round was a physical affair after Leclerc sent Latifi into a spin thanks to a failed overtaking move.

He would give the position back to the Canadian driver though, making it one apiece for the deciding round.

Leclerc moved into the lead off the line with Latifi botching an overtake attempt using the outside line into Brooklands.

Latifi was back for another try down the Hangar Straight, but it was all over when he went wide at the Chapel Corner before crashing into the barriers.

“It’s tough, these races are so much pressure,” he said afterwards as quoted by The Race.

“I kept saying to my stream so many times you don’t treat these like a real race at all.

“Especially if knowing it’s only one lap and you’ve just got to stay ahead, you have to be very strategic whether defending or attacking.

“My heart is still pounding even though the race finished five minutes ago!

“Charles was getting rocketship starts but it was really good, close racing.

“But it was fun and so I’d definitely love to be back for round three if there is one.”

It had been an all-F1 semi-final stage with Leclerc seeing off Lando Norris, while Latifi defeated Alex Albon to set up the final between Leclerc and Latifi.

Norris spun at the S section at the Austin circuit in his first round against Leclerc after tagging the back of his car, while he picked up a two-second time penalty for corner cutting in the deciding round.

Check out this brand new video from our friends at Racing Statistics. The 2003 Constructors’ Championship in time-lapse form: