A top manager reveals: a team has contacted Charles Leclerc to lure him away from Ferrari
According to a prominent Formula 1 manager, there is at least one team that has already reached out to Charles Leclerc in an attempt to pull him away from Ferrari. The Monegasque driver has always publicly stated that his dream is to win with the Scuderia in red. However, careers do not last forever, and a driver of his caliber risks ending his time in Formula 1 without ever truly having the opportunity to fight for a world championship. Charles Leclerc knows this all too well. Despite repeatedly declaring his love for Ferrari, the time may come when he has to seriously consider saying goodbye to Maranello in order to chase the world title elsewhere.
Offers would certainly not be lacking for Charles Leclerc, just as they are never lacking for Max Verstappen. The Dutchman seemed just a step away from leaving Red Bull earlier this season, before eventually deciding to stay for at least another year in Milton Keynes in order to get a clearer picture of how the new competitive order will shape up on the grid. “In the end, I believe it was the right choice, because with the new regulations everything can change. We preferred to wait and see how the championship develops before planning Max’s future in the best way possible,” explained Max Verstappen’s manager Raymund Vermeulen in an interview with De Telegraaf. “Of course, it would be wonderful if he could remain with Red Bull for his entire career. But to achieve that, there has to be a winning car.”
The curious background about Leclerc
Raymund Vermeulen also revealed a behind-the-scenes detail that has gone somewhat unnoticed in recent months, offering an intriguing insight. “Over the years, there have been moments when it looked like Red Bull could sink. But in the end, they always manage to find a way out, as we saw recently in Monza.”
The Dutch manager then pointed out that it is entirely normal for drivers to have contact with other teams, stressing that this is simply the way Formula 1 works. “In Formula 1, everybody calls everybody. Do you really think Toto Wolff doesn’t call Leclerc? Every team wants the best drivers available. We have always been transparent regarding Max’s desires. He loves racing, and it doesn’t matter to him whether it’s Formula 1, simulators, or GT cars,” Vermeulen added.
This admission has fueled speculation that it is not just Max Verstappen in Mercedes’ sights. Toto Wolff may soon make a move for Charles Leclerc as well, potentially pulling off another blockbuster signing—this time in the opposite direction of the shock transfer that brought Lewis Hamilton to Ferrari.
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