Charles Leclerc responds “I like the staff” to Ferrari F1 exit rumours

Charles Leclerc poured scorn on latest rumours in Italian media stating that the Ferrari driver noticed his long-term Formulation 1 future elsewhere, revealing his shock over the hypothesis.

The Monegasque admitted that the staff was not significantly glad with its begin to 2025, with the staff hoping to select up on its type from the tip of 2024 with the aim of difficult for titles — as a substitute, the staff has managed simply three grand prix podiums this yr.

Ferrari has managed to chalk up a dash race win up to now in 2025, courtesy of Lewis Hamilton’s victory in China, however typically has discovered combined type by the remainder of the yr; qualifying performances have been so-so, as its race tempo has typically been stronger.

This has not solely led to hypothesis about the way forward for staff principal Frederic Vasseur, but in addition that Leclerc could think about trying elsewhere with a cited exit clause in his contract.

Nonetheless, Leclerc defined that he has by no means wavered in his help for the Ferrari staff, and desires to stay part of the plans to deliver the Prancing Horse again to the highest of F1.

“I am very stunned. I imply, I don’t know from the place it is coming from,” Leclerc said. “So, I am going to fairly simply ignore it. 

“However I’ve by no means mentioned something of this in the previous few races. If something, I preserve saying how a lot I like the staff and the way a lot I need to deliver again Ferrari to the highest. I used to be simply stunned.

“We now have a imaginative and prescient that we share, us three – Fred, Lewis and myself, with a view to try to get again to successful. And we have been working to place that each one collectively. And so, yeah, that is for positive our plan. And I believe we must always persist with it.”

Leclerc elaborated on his disappointment with Ferrari’s present outcomes and the present lack of a title problem, though said that a part of this was as a result of McLaren having began 2025 in higher type than the opposite outfits on the grid. Regardless, Leclerc added that Ferrari wanted to “discover ourselves” with a view to renew a problem for race wins.

Leclerc then said ignoring exterior strain on the staff was regular, and that the interior drive to carry out remained targeted on reaching extra common race wins – and find “the excellent factor” that McLaren has been capable of unearth up to now in 2025.

“I believe none of us are glad of the way it’s going in the meanwhile. That is clear. We got here into the season pondering that we had probabilities to problem McLaren and Pink Bull with a view to win the championship. 

“That has not been the case up to now. Nevertheless, it is truthful additionally to say that I do not suppose many individuals understood, other than McLaren, like… they’ve carried out an enormous step ahead in comparison with final yr. Much more than anyone else.

“I believe McLaren is doing an excellent job. We’re completely not completely happy within the state of affairs we’re in in the meanwhile. Nevertheless, I really feel like we simply want to seek out ourselves as effectively, identical to Mercedes, identical to Pink Bull. 

“We have to discover the excellent factor that McLaren have discovered.

“We’re already placing ourselves underneath lots of strain. Then, after all, there are some talks that it is not one thing that you just need to hear. However the strain is regular to have it.

“If you end up working for Ferrari, second is rarely ok. However we’re all conscious of it. So it is not like the surface strain is having any affect on the strain that we put ourselves first. We need to be successful. And as I preserve saying, it is not ok. 

“However I am not the one one to say that. All of the staff is aware of that it is not ok and that Ferrari ought to be successful. And that is what we’re placing all our efforts into, is to try to deliver Ferrari again to the highest.”