Ferrari was born from a dream, the aspiration of a special young boy. Never tamed in nurturing a fairy tale that would later become reality. The unrivaled myth of the historic team emerges from passion, the same passion that Charles Leclerc displays behind the wheel of the red car every “damn Sunday.” Charles cannot pretend; he is genuine, perhaps even too much, as he lets his emotions show both on the track and in front of the cameras. A straightforward guy chasing a rather complicated goal: to become the Formula 1 world champion with the Prancing Horse emblem stitched on his chest. So far, nothing new.
However, a few weeks ago, amidst speculations, the Monegasque driver was considered a possible departure from Ferrari. Rumors suggested a continuous “discomfort” that had eroded the relationship between the driver and the Maranello team to a point of no return. The Italian news media outlet Formula One Technical Analysis denied this news, finding confirmation from Charles himself through his public statements a few days later.
Let’s be clear; no one likes to lose, least of all Charles Leclerc. Yet, imagining an unreal scenario with supposed contacts to different teams for possible agreements did not seem to be the case back then. This was the recent dystopian narrative. The new one, on the other hand, tells a completely different story. Yes, because Charles Leclerc, it seems, has every intention of extending his ties with the Maranello team. In the last few weeks, the Ferrari driver has been negotiating the renewal with the team’s top management.
Charles Leclerc and Ferrari: a marriage that must continue. Ferrari needs Leclerc, and Leclerc needs Ferrari. The two protagonists love each other; there are no doubts about that. Their sometimes tumultuous relationship hasn’t diminished the mutual respect and desire to achieve their goal together. The importance of this reciprocal sentiment is added to their needs, as they are indeed “convenient for each other.”
The Italian team is not sailing in calm waters. On the contrary, the stormy sea in which it floats, pushed by the waves, shows no signs of calming down. It is a company not in disarray but still far from the required solidity. A necessary “status” without which none of the fervently desired goals will be achieved. And so, there is Fred Vasseur, striving. He goes the extra mile to avoid resembling Mattia Binotto. Sometimes he succeeds, sometimes less so.
But the Frenchman is a positive character. His technical recruiting is under scrutiny. Whether it is five, ten, or forty figures the team is evaluating to replenish a tree now devoid of juicy fruits doesn’t matter. What matters, at this point, is the validity of the individuals who will step into Maranello in the near future. Everything else is just words carried away by the wind.
Show your support for Scuderia Ferrari with official merchandise collection! Click here to enter the F1 online Store and shop securely! And also get your F1 tickets for every race with VIP hospitality and unparalleled insider access. Click here for the best offers to support Charles and Carlos from the track!
The first acquisition of the French team principal is Charles Leclerc. A cornerstone on which the fifty-five-year-old from Draveil has had his eyes on for some time. Not having the Monegasque talent in the racing campaign from 2025 onwards is not even considered. For this reason, Charles Leclerc has been placed even more at the center of the project. Carlos Sainz knows it. He has seen it. He has noticed it. That’s why the recent desire for success is wearing down the thoughts of the Spaniard and, in turn, pushing him to venture beyond his usual team-oriented attitude.
Charles wants Ferrari, but even if he didn’t, let’s suppose, he wouldn’t have valid alternatives. Red Bull? Nah… Despite the facade statements of Christian Horner and company, Max Verstappen shouldn’t face even the slightest disturbance on his path to glory. The Dutchman has a strong character, quite peculiar despite his young age. Just like Charles Leclerc, he nurtures a single goal, coincidentally matching the Ferrari driver’s: to win. Consequently, the match between the two is not a healthy one. They know it well in Milton Keynes and its surroundings, although (too) often they don’t show it and instead display an arrogant self-importance.
Then there’s Mercedes, a team with declining performance since 2021. Nothing prevents the German team from having desires for victory. As far as we know, in 2024, they will start the season with the goal of defeating everyone. And they might have the means to do so, considering their great responsiveness shown in the recent past. And that project, the slyly named “zero pod,” now abandoned forever, could be a significant advantage for the upcoming year.
However, the problem in this case is also called duality. The same issue experienced during the 2016 Formula One season, which effectively clarified to Toto Wolff what not to do when forming a pair of drivers. Especially if you don’t have a significantly better car that could limit the title fight to an internal dispute. Mercedes is aiming for George Russell for the future, protected by the wide shoulders of Lewis Hamilton, who, however, has no intention of abdicating yet.
Ferrari/Charles Leclerc: the marriage continues…
Having mathematical certainty about one’s own personal life is already complicated. Imagine if it’s about someone else’s life. Nevertheless, an important point emerges in this matter, immersed in an obligatory conditional that cannot be excluded from the following news after the colon: Recently, Charles Leclerc would have already signed the renewal with Ferrari. A 2+3 contract exercisable at the expiration of the current one, as reported by Alessandro Arcari for the well-respected news outlet FUnoanalisitecnica, awaiting official confirmations from both parties.
Simultaneously, on the other side of the Maranello garage, Carlos Sainz would have asked for the same conditions. In this case, negotiations are still ongoing, with Carlos’ father actively exploring various options. One of these, specifically, is Alpine. The French team has every intention of “maturing,” and to do so, they might have identified a fast, reliable driver with a strong desire to find his own place, like the Spaniard. A space that, under his specific conditions (equal treatment), with Charles Leclerc around, he is unlikely to find in Ferrari.
In Alpine, if the scenario just described were to take shape, he could reunite with an old friend. A bespectacled engineer who has always supported him, believing in his capabilities. Yes, we’re talking about Mister “we have to understand” who perhaps, while wandering among his vineyards, has developed the desire to get back in the game. And why not, maybe with a buddy like Carlos. A partnership already verified and partly functional, combining the aforementioned desire for redemption.
Source: Alessandro Arcari for FUnoanalisitecnica
Leave a Reply