Charles Leclerc has expressed that he has given zero consideration to departing Ferrari, despite recognising that the team is in a “complicated moment” in Formula 1.
Leclerc’s seventh season with Ferrari appears primed to end in more disappointment as the side’s protracted title drought since 2008 looks all but certain to continue.
Having missed out to McLaren in a final-race decider in 2024, the Monegasque entered the ongoing campaign insisting that the Italian marque must target both titles.
But while he’s outshone seven-time champion team-mate Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari’s issues with the troubled SF-25 have limited Leclerc to three podiums in nine races.
That has resigned Leclerc to trailing 92 points behind championship leader Oscar Piastri, while Ferrari languishes a sizeable 197 points down on champions McLaren.
Ex-Haas boss Guenther Steiner claimed that Leclerc, who made his F1 debut in FP1 under the Italian’s watch in 2016, should be open to assessing alternative options.
“He needs a new challenge,” Steiner said on the Red Flags podcast.
“I think he’s been there a long time, sometimes change is good like Lewis [Hamilton] left Mercedes to go to Ferrari.
“I think Charles, it’s like something new because at some stage everything just becomes routine.
“He is not in a position to win a championship, so if he maybe goes somewhere else, maybe he gets lucky, you never know.”
Leclerc remains committed to Ferrari
However, Leclerc has revealed that he has not contemplated going elsewhere as he remains convinced that Fred Vasseur can guide Ferrari back to the promised land.
Asked whether there is a chance that he could leave Ferrari, Leclerc, who signed a long-term deal in 2023, told L’Equipe: “Of course not, there is absolutely no chance.
“I believe in the project and I believe in Fred. Clearly, it’s a complicated moment and in times like this it’s easy to have doubts.
“But I’m not thinking about leaving Ferrari, I want to win with Ferrari. And I will stay as long as I believe in this project. And I believe in it.
“I’ve always said I have total trust in Fred and I truly believe he is the right person to bring Ferrari back to the top.
“He really is the one who can make it win. I’ve always said it. I really hope that together we can bring Ferrari back to the top.”
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