Leclerc denies anything about Mercedes but the scenarios remain

Amid rumors he is signing a preliminary contract with Mercedes, Charles Leclerc says he has not held talks with the Brackley team and still dreams of winning the Formula 1 championship with Ferrari.

Rumors of the Monegasque pilot’s eventual departure from Maranello began last summer when his relationship with then-manager Mattia Binotto collapsed. In fact, at the end of last season (2022), for the first time in his public statements, he did not deny that there is a possibility of changing teams when his contract with Scuderia expires at the end of 2024.

A lot has changed since then – and especially the team boss. Binotto was replaced by Frédéric Vasser, with whom Leclerc had an excellent relationship at Alfa Romeo in 2018. Although Vasser has stated – at least publicly – that Leclerc and Carlos Sainz will start on equal footing for the title, everything seems to be going well between the Monegasque and his French manager.

In any case, a very big role in Leclerc’s future will be played by the competitiveness of this year’s Ferrari SF-23, its reliability, the possibility (or not) of offering it races and the title of champion, but also the orderly operation of the group especially in the area of ​​strategy.

Which strengthens the Leclerc Mercedes scenarios

Whatever the case, as long as Ferrari don’t renew Leclerc’s contract and Mercedes do the same with Lewis Hamilton – whose contract expires at the end of 2023 – the rumors will continue to churn.

Mercedes’ Toto Wolff recently reiterated that meeting Lewis to extend his contract is a formality – but what if this year’s Mercedes aren’t capable of winning? Would that hasten Hamilton’s decision to quit?

“I plan to stay here for a few yearssaid the seven-time champion at the presentation of this year’s W14 with a look at Wolff that didn’t go unnoticed.

But back to Leclerc, when asked by Italian Quotidiano Nazionale about a contract extension beyond 2024, the Monegasque said: “No rush. I know you’re worried about me going to Mercedes, but frankly there was no negotiation. I feel good at Ferrari, I can feel the enthusiasm of the people. I’m excited about the idea of ​​realizing the dream of me and all of us to win with Ferrari“.

The 25-year-old concluded: “I’m leaving for Bahrain on Monday and to be honest I can’t wait to get there. We will have three days of testing together with all our opponents. There’s little point in wondering how I should judge the new car (the Ferrari SF-23). I said right away that my first impression is good, but it all depends on how it compares to the other cars“.