Charles Leclerc has confirmed that he was aware of negotiations between Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari prior to committing his long-term Formula 1 future to the team.
Ferrari announced last month that Leclerc had signed a multi-year contract to extend his long association with the Scuderia beyond the end of the upcoming season.
However, the Monegasque will be partnered alongside a new driver from 2025 after the bombshell news that Hamilton will replace the incumbent Carlos Sainz at Ferrari.
Despite speculation that he had been left in the dark, Leclerc has revealed he was privy to the possibility of the seven-time champion’s impending arrival before deciding his future.
“Obviously these kinds of deals are not finalised overnight, it takes time, and I was aware of those discussions before signing my deal, so it didn’t come out as a surprise after signing,” Leclerc told media including Motorsport Week at Ferrari’s 2024 launch.
“Then for the rest I don’t want to comment that much, mostly out of respect for Carlos, we’ve had great years together and we have one more year together to do.
“We will do absolutely everything to finish on the highest note possible.
“Obviously Lewis is the most incredible driver, the most successful in history, with a lot of experience as well, which he will bring to the team and myself, which is a good thing.
“But again, with Carlos it’s been great and we’ve got one more year together to try and do the best job possible.”
Pressed on whether Ferrari’s pursuit of Hamilton had altered his conversations with the team, Leclerc replied: “No, it hasn’t changed anything in my discussions because I focus on myself and what’s good for me, so there was no change of any requirements or whatsoever, for me that wasn’t part of my discussions.
“It was good the team was transparent, anyway, for me to not learn it after that, but it didn’t change anything for me.”
Leclerc divulged that he had been in contact with Hamilton following the confirmation and detailed that he was relishing the prospect of going up against the Briton on equal terms.
“We’ve had discussions with Lewis, especially when everything was announced and official, we texted each other, of course,” he disclosed.
“Lewis is a great champion with a lot of experience and so much success, it is always interesting to have a new team-mate as you learn different ways of working and driving. Even more so when my new teammate is a seven-time World Champion.”
Leclerc has been aligned with Ferrari since being signed to its academy in 2016 and has been a part of its F1 race team since 2019, landing five wins across the past five years.
While he admits his relationship with the brand played a role in his deal, Leclerc insists that his faith in Ferrari’s bid to return to the top was the primary factor in his choice.
“Well of course it’s part of my decision, I think not only because it feels like a family but most of all because they were the first people to believe in me even before I got to F1,” he answered when asked about his latest extension. “They gave me the opportunity to get to Formula 1, they gave me the opportunity of being a Formula 1 driver and giving me a car good enough for my first pole position and my first win.
“But more than anything what made me sign for a longer contract is I believe in the project, otherwise I wouldn’t have done that.
“I believe in the project fully, I love Ferrari, that’s for sure, and I think that’s clear to everybody, but I believe in the project and believe we have the best chances to become the best car on the grid in the next years, so this is why I renewed with Ferrari.”
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