Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc may not have ended the season with a silver trophy in hand, but he did manage something arguably more satisfying: living rent-free in George Russell’s head over Christmas.
As Formula 1’s annual Secret Santa end-of-season ritual unfolded – a usually wholesome affair of jokes and laughs, where drivers gift cheeky presents to each other – Leclerc opted to go nuclear.
Having drawn Russell’s name, the Ferrari charger bypassed the traditional scented candles or chocolate truffles and chose instead a custom-made souvenir of Russell’s personal nightmare: a framed photograph of the pair’s controversial clash at last summer’s Dutch Grand Prix.
The move – heavily disputed at the time by Russell – had seen Leclerc snatch a position from the Mercedes driver, and three months on, the contentious overtake still crackled like static electricity for the Briton.
To ensure the wound was thoroughly poked, Leclerc included a slow-motion video replay of the maneuver, effectively forcing Russell to relive his Dutch Grand Prix heartbreak in high definition.
Russell, visibly blindsided, could only laugh in disbelief as the penny dropped. “Naughty, naughty, naughty…” he said, before summing up the moment with a second line that spoke volumes: “I’m lost for words…”
And really, who wouldn’t be? Some drivers collect trophies; Leclerc collects receipts.
What made the exchange land so perfectly was its precision. The Zandvoort overtake wasn’t just any pass – it was the pass. Russell had been incandescent at the time, convinced Leclerc had pushed beyond the limits, both literal and sporting. The stewards saw it differently, but the sting lingered.
Leclerc clearly remembered.
By freezing the moment in a frame, the Monegasque transformed a fierce on-track confrontation into a masterclass in festive trolling. Exactly the kind of banter that only works when both drivers know the rivalry is real —-but not personal.
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Russell, to his credit, didn’t let it slide quietly.
Never one to miss an opportunity for a dry counterpunch, the Mercedes driver quickly returned fire, digging into the same race weekend for his own punchline.
“Will I send him a Christmas greeting? No, I think I’ll send a photo of Kimi taking him out of the race!”
Touché.
The exchange offered a rare glimpse behind the visor: two elite competitors who will fight tooth and nail at 300 km/h, yet happily needle each other once the helmets come off. It’s a reminder that F1’s fiercest rivalries often come with a grin – and occasionally, a picture frame.
It’s likely, however, that the memento won’t be taking pride of place in Russell’s home – even if it did make for the most memorable gift of the season.
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