Leclerc: “Vasseur was the main reason behind my Ferrari renewal”
As expected, all eyes in Monte Carlo are firmly on Charles Leclerc. For the Ferrari driver, this year’s home Grand Prix arrives under particularly special circumstances following the announcement of his new contract extension with the Maranello team.
As a result, Thursday’s Monaco Grand Prix press conference almost turned into a one-man show, with Leclerc repeatedly asked to explain the reasons behind his decision to continue believing in Ferrari’s long-term project. The Monegasque also discussed the unique challenges of this year’s Monaco weekend and returned to the simulator debate that Lewis Hamilton reignited in recent weeks.
The Monaco factor and Ferrari’s pursuit of Mercedes in 2026
Ahead of his home race, Leclerc firmly rejected suggestions that Ferrari should be considered the favourite for victory, despite comments from Lando Norris pointing in that direction. While acknowledging that Monaco’s characteristics should help the SF-26, the Ferrari driver stressed that the performances shown by rival teams since the start of the season cannot be ignored.
Leclerc attempted to keep expectations under control while admitting that Monaco could offer Ferrari a better opportunity than previous events.
“No, I don’t think we are the favourites. We are definitely in a better position and, if there is one track where I would bet on us, it is probably Monaco. However, I believe Mercedes has maintained a significant advantage since the beginning of the year, so they will be very strong. I think McLaren and Red Bull will also be extremely competitive. We have struggled quite a lot on the straights so far, but here that deficit should be less of a handicap because we can rely on a very strong chassis and aerodynamic package.”
The challenge of fighting at the front extends far beyond Monaco. Ferrari remains focused on closing the gap to Mercedes in a season where the competitive order can still change rapidly depending on the effectiveness of each team’s upgrades.
When asked whether Ferrari can realistically fight for the world championship, Leclerc remained cautious but optimistic.
“It’s very difficult to make predictions because things can change and evolve very quickly in one direction or another, especially with these regulations. It’s probably too early to say,” admitted the Ferrari driver. “But I see a lot of motivation. Everyone at the factory is pushing flat out to make sure we can close the gap to Mercedes. That is our objective, and then we’ll see whether we can achieve it.”
The unique challenge of Monaco and qualifying traffic concerns
Discussing the peculiarities of the Monaco circuit, Leclerc believes the 2026 generation of Formula 1 cars will create different challenges compared to recent years. One area of particular interest is the famous Massenet corner, which follows the climb toward Casino Square.
“With the previous cars, that first change of direction was almost flat out. On the first lap you would lift slightly, but from the second lap onwards you would take it flat. With these cars it will be an interesting exercise because the aerodynamic load is much lower than in the past. I think it will become a real corner again, especially during the first part of the weekend.”
“It’s a very tricky section and you are constantly on the limit because you arrive completely blind until the apex. You can’t really see anything beyond the apex itself, and that is exactly what makes the corner so exciting.”
Another major topic in Monaco is qualifying traffic, which has always had the potential to define the outcome of an entire weekend. This year, the challenge becomes even greater with 22 cars on the grid instead of 20.
Some have suggested splitting qualifying into two groups, as happens in other racing categories, but Leclerc is not convinced.
“It will definitely be a complex challenge,” he admitted. “We already experienced major issues in previous years, with drivers finding themselves in the wrong place when faster cars arrived. The main problem with splitting qualifying is that whoever ends up in the first group will complain about the conditions in the second group, and vice versa. Dividing the session would simply create even more complaints throughout the paddock.”
Leclerc believes the solution is much simpler and depends largely on driver awareness and communication.
“Everyone simply needs to pay more attention to their mirrors and use the radio messages for the one thing they are really useful for: receiving information about drivers who are on flying laps. Too often that doesn’t happen. I don’t think we’ll see a dramatic situation, provided everyone respects the racing line when they need to slow down.”
“Managing 22 cars on such a short circuit is complicated, especially considering the size of these Formula 1 cars, but the situation is the same for everyone and the only solution is to adapt. With good radio communication you can get through it. A few years ago, in other categories, we were racing with 37 cars on track and it was much worse.”
Why he renewed: Fred Vasseur’s central role
Unsurprisingly, much of the media attention focused on Leclerc’s new contract extension, which officially commits him to Ferrari for the coming years. The decision is rooted in both a strong emotional attachment and a professional relationship that has developed over a decade within Ferrari’s driver programme.
Explaining his decision, Leclerc made it clear that there was never any uncertainty in his mind.
“I didn’t have a specific timeline in my head. For me, the situation was very clear: I love this team and I think that’s obvious from the outside. I’ve spent eight years with the Formula 1 team and ten years with Ferrari as a whole,” recalled the Monegasque. “They were among the first people to believe in me and help me get to where I am today. I also strongly believe in the project.”
A major factor behind the renewal was the presence of Team Principal Fred Vasseur. Leclerc’s trust in the Frenchman’s leadership and long-term vision played a decisive role in convincing him to continue his journey with Ferrari.
“The main reason is Fred Vasseur,” Leclerc explained when asked what pushed him to commit to Ferrari again. “I completely agree with his vision and I believe in him a lot. This is the first car he has developed together with the team, we are seeing many innovations and we have a long-term vision. We want to get back to the top as quickly as possible and I fully support that direction. My love for this team is immense. Winning is important for every driver, but winning in red has a unique feeling.”
Although the extension was the natural outcome of his relationship with Ferrari, Charles Leclerc confirmed that other teams had expressed interest in him before the deal was finalized: “Yes, there were contacts. I won’t say with whom; they can say it if they want to, but for me Ferrari has always been the only choice.”
The Ferrari driver also dismissed any thoughts about the distant future: “I’m still very young, I’m 28 years old and I have many years ahead of me. Right now this is the right decision. I want to focus on winning with the team that believed in me. As for the future, we’ll see.”
The simulator debate and his difference of opinion with Hamilton
During the Canadian Grand Prix weekend, Lewis Hamilton questioned the necessity of using the simulator to prepare for races, explaining that he prefers to rely on historical data analysis and alternative preparation methods.
Leclerc, however, takes a very different view and remains a strong supporter of simulator work.
Asked about Lewis Hamilton’s approach, the Monegasque defended his own preparation methods: “It doesn’t influence my preparation in any way. Everyone has their own personal preferences and, as far as I’m concerned, the simulator has always worked extremely well,” Charles Leclerc explained.
“It’s a tool I’ve used since arriving in Formula 1 and I have no intention of changing that. It is an extremely powerful instrument for me. Very often we test modifications directly there to understand the development direction. It is fully integrated into our evolution process. It works for me and I will continue to use it.”
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