The rumors about Charles Leclerc
Due to a 2023 Formula 1 season start rather far from expectations, before the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc had only collected six points in the Drivers’ championship, hindered by reliability issues, alongside a far from competitive SF-23 car and the mistake in Australia. As revealed by both parties in winter, the Monegasque driver has not yet started talking to the Maranello team about renewing his contract, which expires at the end of the 2024 Formula 1 campaign and this particular situation has led to some market rumors reported in the Italian and international media.
In particular, the well-known journalist Leo Turrini has repeatedly claimed that Charles Leclerc and Mercedes are talking, with a view to a hypothetical post- Lewis Hamilton era, and Helmut Marko, the well-known Red Bull advisor, has put pressure by evoking a possible early termination of the agreement with Scuderia Ferrari if a minimum number of points is not reached before the summer break.
Charles Leclerc’s response
Charles Leclerc thus arrived in the Baku paddock expecting the inevitable question about talks with Mercedes from journalists, to which he replied: “If I have talked to Mercedes? No, not yet. Not at the moment. So, for now, I am fully focused on the project I am in today: which is Ferrari. As I said, I have full confidence and am confident for the future. Then we will see.”
The driver then responded with actions in Azerbaijan, winning the Sprint Shootout and pole position, finishing second in the Sprint, and third in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix at the Baku City Circuit: the best possible result against the strong Red Bull team. After the two poles in qualifying, the Monegasque driver proudly pointed to the Prancing Horse on his chest, reiterating, “We are at a time when unfortunately all my words are used to make more noise, I love Ferrari, and I want to win with Ferrari, it’s the only thing on my mind.” – Charles Leclerc wanted to point out.
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Toto Wolff’s comments and Fred Vasseur’s sharp reply
Toto Wolff also opened up on this matter and did not want to miss the opportunity of expressing some words of appreciation towards Charles Leclerc, while ruling out a quick move by the Monegasque to Mercedes: “The last time I spoke to him, we were at the airport in Melbourne. We haven’t had any contact since. I think he is 100% dedicated and loyal to Ferrari, and he has a contract. And we are 100% committed to Lewis. Charles is a super guy, and for the long-term future, he’s a driver you always want to have on your radar, it’s clear. But not for the short or medium term.” – the Mercedes team principal explained.
At the end of the weekend, Frederic Vasseur wanted to put an end to the discussions once and for all: “All the rumors that talk about Charles Leclerc leaving Ferrari are nonsense. Charles loves Ferrari, he said it several times. It’s normal that in this early part of the season, rumors about the drivers’ future are circulating.” – Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur concluded.
