Formula 1 business expert Mark Gallagher holds the view that a possible shift to newcomers Audi would be considered a “step down” for Ferrari’s star driver Charles Leclerc.
Since his arrival at Scuderia Ferrari in 2019, Charles Leclerc has proven himself as one of the most exceptional drivers on the grid, although he has secured just five wins in four and a half seasons alongside the Maranello team.
After finishing second to Max Verstappen in the 2022 standings, Leclerc had aimed for a World Championship campaign this year. However, Ferrari remains without a victory after the first 12 races of 2023, with Charles Leclerc not having won since last season’s Austrian Grand Prix.
Charles Leclerc has been advised against switching from Ferrari to Audi.
With his existing contract set to conclude at the end of 2024, Charles Leclerc’s name has been linked to potential moves to teams such as Mercedes and Red Bull. Audi, expected to take control of the current Alfa Romeo/Sauber team in preparation for Formula 1’s next major rule alteration in 2026, has also emerged as another prospective option.
The Monegasque entered Formula 1 with Sauber in 2018. However, speaking on the GP Racing magazine podcast, Gallagher believes only financial incentives could lure the 25-year-old back to the Swiss-based team. He draws a parallel to Eddie Irvine joining Jaguar for the 2000 season after narrowly missing out on the title with Ferrari the previous year.
He explained: “You look at Charles Leclerc in relation to Ferrari and you look at what the alternatives are. He could definitely go and earn a great deal of money driving elsewhere – and with the likes of Audi coming in, he could take a big paycheck.
“But I think for Charles to go from Ferrari to Audi would be a little bit like Eddie Irvine going from Ferrari to Jaguar. It’s just a pension. It would be a step down for him.” – Formula 1 business expert Mark Gallagher pointed out.
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