F1 News: Charles Leclerc And Ferrari Shoot Down Team Move Rumours With Contract Negotiations
Charles Leclerc and Ferrari are reportedly advancing discussions for a contract extension, indicating their commitment to continue working together, seemingly putting down recent rumours linking Leclerc to a move to Mercedes. The rumours have sparked speculation about a potential driver shuffle, with new reports of the Maranello-based squad offering Lewis Hamilton a huge contract.
Leclerc's disappointing start to the season, coupled with his contract expiring at the end of 2024, has fuelled speculation about his future. The Monegasque driver has denied the rumours of a potential switch to Mercedes.
These rumours have also led fans and pundits to ponder the possibility of a sensational driver swap, with Lewis Hamilton potentially making a move to Ferrari. While the specifics remain uncertain, the mere prospect of such a high-profile move has ignited excitement within the Formula 1 community.
Despite the rumours, it seems that both Leclerc and Ferrari are eager to continue with the partnership. As negotiations continue between the two parties, according to Formu1a.uno, fans eagerly await further developments.
Leclerc showed great promise in 2022 being Max Verstappen's main challenger for the championship title. The Ferrari driver ended up finishing in second-place in the standings after some strategical errors and reliability issues in the latter stages of the season, and was ready to come back fighting in 2023.
However, although Ferrari made some improvements with the SF-23, Red Bull has developed a significant lead with the RB19. The Austrian team has dominated the 2023 season so far, winning all five races and having 1-2 finishes for four out of those five. Aston Martin has also made incredible gains from 2022 to 2023 and are up in the mix with Fernando Alonso crossing the line in third place four times so far this season.