Leclerc wants to stay longer at Ferrari, but does not rule out switch either
General
Rumours have been swirling around Charles Leclerc persona for weeks. Will he succeed Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes? Will he stay at Ferrari? Has he already renewed his contract with the Italian team? In an interview with Autosport.com , the Monegasque himself talks about his future.
Leclerc says he currently feels at home at the Maranello-based stable. The now 25-year-old driver was added to the Ferrari Driver Academy in 2016, so he knows everyone very well. The environment is nice, although the results in recent years have not been what they should have been. Reason to look a door away if the opportunity presents itself?
“Of course, I think every driver has considered their different options, once they get the [possibility]", Leclerc states. "But I have a huge love of Ferrari. And my first target and my first dream is to become a world champion with Ferrari, more than anything else. So, if there's a slight opportunity for it to happen, I will have no doubt about pushing to stay here at least.”
No talks with Ferrari
The five-time Grand Prix winner is still fixed until 2024, as is teammate Carlos Sainz. Frederic Vasseur, who also oversaw Leclerc as team boss on his F1 debut at Sauber, has indicated several times that contract negotiations are not the priority now. The most important thing according to the Frenchman is improving the SF23 first.
According to Leclerc, that is also the only reason and we need not look for it in that either himself or Ferrari are holding off the boat. “I just think it is not probably the priority at the moment: not for me, but neither for the team. We are just focusing on what's really important now. It is to be as competitive as quickly as possible again. And then we'll see. But again, I love Ferrari and it feels like home.”
Reports that Leclerc would therefore already be in talks with Ferrari about a new commitment therefore seem to be binned with these statements from Leclerc.