Lewis Hamilton asserts the rumours linking Charles Leclerc to Mercedes are not impacting his push to secure his own deal with the team.
Mercedes currently has one seat open next year as Hamilton’s contract expires at the end of the 2023 campaign.
The seven-time World Champion has asserted on multiple occasions that he is expecting to remain at Mercedes in 2024.
However, in recent days, there has been speculation that Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc is in discussions with the Mercedes team.
A recent report in Italian media stated that it was an “open secret” that Leclerc was talking to the Brackley-based squad.
The Monegasque driver has endured a difficult start to the 2023 campaign, retiring from two of the opening three rounds.
Having joined Ferrari in 2019, he has taken five grand prix wins, 24 podiums and 18 pole positions.
However, he has been able to challenge for a title in his tenure with the team to date, with Ferrari’s chances in 2023 looking bleak after the first races.
Leclerc’s current Ferrari deal runs out at the end of the 2024 campaign, and has asserted that he has not had any call from Mercedes.
“No, not yet. Not for the moment,” he said.
“So, for now, I am fully focused on the project I am today: which is Ferrari. As I said, I fully trust and I’m confident for the future, then we’ll see.
“I’m fully committed to Ferrari. And I love Ferrari. It’s always been a dream for me to be in this team.
“And my main priority is to win the world championship with the team. So no, it’s not something in my mind.”
Hamilton says that he is calm over the situation and insists the rumours are having no impact on his future.
“Not really. Some of the drivers speak to or have relationships with team bosses,” he said.
“I like where I am, I love my team. I’m grateful for the journey we’ve been on and what we’re working on moving forward. It doesn’t have any impact, no.”
Leclerc’s Ferrari team-mate Carlos Sainz is also contracted to the end of the 2024 season, and was briefly linked to an Audi seat – a rumour that he shut down.
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