A wrestle for outcomes has seen the strain round Lewis Hamilton swell at Ferrari, however he is not the one driver at Maranello together with his identify making the headlines
Ferrari boss Frederic Vasseur has grown weary of fixed rumours suggesting Charles Leclerc would possibly depart the workforce. He emphasised that the Monegasque driver is below a long-term contract with the Italian outfit regardless of persistent hypothesis about his future.
Leclerc, 27, presently holds fifth place on this season’s Method 1 drivers’ standings, one spot and 25 factors forward of his team-mate, Lewis Hamilton. The seven-time world champion joined Maranello amid a lot hype firstly of 2025, however Leclerc stays the dominant power for the workforce to this point this season and has solely completed behind Hamilton as soon as.
Each drivers have been lower than thrilled with their efficiency on the current Canadian Grand Prix, the place Leclerc and Hamilton completed fifth and sixth, respectively. The truth is, Hamilton is but to safe his first podium end for Ferrari because the season reaches its midway level, having largely struggled to this point.
Given these circumstances, it is logical Ferrari would need to retain Leclerc, who continues to outperform Hamilton regardless of the latter’s high-profile arrival. When requested about his personal future with the workforce, Vasseur took the chance to handle the continuing hypothesis surrounding his main man.
“It is a good instance to talk about Charles,” he advised the media after the Canadian GP. “Charles has a long-term contract with us.
“Each single interview from the start of the season, he is telling that he desires to stick with Ferrari. He desires to win with Ferrari. His future is with Ferrari.
“However each single Monday, now we have an article telling that, ‘Charles will go subsequent 12 months’, ‘Charles will…’ At one stage, I do not know what now we have to do. I am sorry – I can not repeat each single weekend the identical issues. However it’s like it’s.”
Leclerc penned a brand new take care of Ferrari in January 2024. The specifics of his contract’s period aren’t identified to the general public, although there have been reviews up to now suggesting it may very well be a five-year extension.
Leclerc himself expressed being “very stunned” at claims of his unhappiness. And he not too long ago reiterated his want to guide Ferrari to the head of F1 as soon as once more.
“I don’t know the place it is coming from,” he not too long ago advised reporters. “So, I am going to quite simply ignore it. However I’ve by no means mentioned something of this in the previous couple of races. If something, I preserve saying how a lot I like the workforce and the way a lot I need to carry again Ferrari to the highest. I used to be simply stunned.”
In distinction, Hamilton signed an preliminary two-year deal at Maranello, which reportedly might lengthen to a 3rd. Nonetheless, Ferrari would possibly face a troublesome name come the shut of the 2026 season if their fortunes do not take a pointy upward flip throughout the subsequent 12 months or so.
Having joined Ferrari’s driver academy at 18, Leclerc continues to be a loyal servant as he seems to be to crack the F1 hierarchy. And regardless of Ferrari nonetheless not clinching a victory to this point in 2025, all indicators level in the direction of a long-lasting bond between the workforce and their high driver.
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