(Motorsport-Total.com) – The Formula 1 paddock in Monte Carlo is still deserted on Thursday morning. At nine o’clock, a long day full of obligations has already begun for Charles Leclerc. A packed schedule awaits him, but there is also time to receive congratulations for the contract extension that secures him at least two more years with Ferrari.
Read more Leclerc extends contract with Ferrari: Right decision or dead end?
In an interview with the Italian edition of Motorsport.com, Leclerc speaks for the first time since Ferrari’s announcement about the reasons why he will remain loyal to the Scuderia in the future.
Question: “You have now signed your third contract extension with Ferrari. Was this the one you thought about the most, or was the decision as natural as the previous times?”
Charles Leclerc: “I think every extension is always carefully considered, and this one was no different. The main factor is belief in the project. As for the love I feel for this team, that’s nothing I need to question anymore – so from that perspective, I didn’t have to think long.”
“Then there’s Fred (Vasseur): We have a unique relationship, and I have great confidence that he is the right person to bring Ferrari back to the top.”
“There are also the signs we’ve seen this year. We are behind Mercedes, that’s true, but I see a lot of innovation. In Maranello, there’s a group that’s pushing extremely hard and trying to think differently than in the past, sometimes unconventionally. We’ve seen new solutions on the car, and that has given me even more confidence and convinced me that this is the team I want to be with.”
“So, apart from my love for Ferrari – which is obvious – there was also a rational evaluation. Just like with every contract extension before.”
“Comfort zone” played no role in the decision
Question: “Have you ever felt the need to consider alternatives to Ferrari over the years? I can imagine that Nicolas Todt has received inquiries from other top teams. How easy was it for you to focus on a single option?”
Leclerc: “I never really thought about alternatives. There were certainly discussions, because after ten years in this paddock, you build relationships that go beyond the professional.”
“Sometimes there are discussions, which I consider quite natural, but I can confirm that these matters concern Nicolas much more than me. As for me, and I want to emphasize this, what I wanted to do was always completely clear.”
Question: “You are Monegasque, but you have been immersed in a deeply Italian environment for many years now. Last year, Lewis Hamilton called you ‘Mr. Ferrari,’ emphasizing how much you have become a part of the Scuderia. Did this sense of belonging influence your decision? Sometimes it can be harder to leave your comfort zone than it seems.”
Leclerc: “I don’t think so. Throughout my motorsport career, I have often changed teams, from karting through the junior categories. Even if you stay with the same team, the people you work with often change from one season to the next.”
Leclerc: “I have a clear vision”
“It’s true that I’ve been in the same environment for eight years, but many people have changed here too. The comfort zone has never been a criterion in my decisions. It would be wrong to decide to stay just because you feel comfortable there.”
“What I want is to win. I’ve always said that. And what I absolutely want is to win in red. This extension aims to bring Ferrari back to the top.”
Question: “After this agreement expires, you will have completed eleven seasons in Formula 1, ten of them with Ferrari. Nevertheless, you will only be 31 years old. Do you sometimes think about how long your future in this sport might still be?”
Leclerc: “I love this sport and I consider myself lucky to be able to do what I do. But it’s difficult to have a clear vision of the future and imagine how I will feel in two, three, five, or ten years. That depends on many things.”
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“Formula 1 has always been the most important thing in my life, but I am also someone who loves family, and today I don’t know where I will be in a few years or what my situation will look like then. There could be aspects that influence my general perspective.”
Question: “Having children?”
Leclerc: “For example, yes. But if you ask me what I think today, I would tell you that I would drive in Formula 1 until I’m 45! But I don’t want to be too sure now and then change my mind in three years.”
“As I said, it’s hard to imagine today what my life will look like in three or five years. But I absolutely love Formula 1 and would like to continue for as long as possible.”
Leclerc emphasizes: Love for Ferrari is not a cliché
Question: “In Formula 1, one is used to hearing many standardized, pre-formulated statements. This has led some people to dismiss your ‘I love Ferrari’ remarks as something expected of you. Looking at your decisions today, it seems obvious that there is much more behind these words.”
Charles Leclerc only gets five wins from 27 poles
Leclerc: “Well… I hope that’s clear by now! Initially, it was the love for this team, for this brand, for what Ferrari represents. After ten years – first in the Ferrari Driver Academy and then in the Scuderia – I have built relationships that mean a lot to me.”
“I have a very special connection with so many people, and that only strengthens my determination to win with this team even more. Everyone who works in Maranello has been giving their best for many years, and yes, that’s exactly what I want to do too.”
Question: “So far, you have always shared the garage with teammates who were more experienced than you – from Vettel to Sainz to Hamilton. Have you ever thought that after this extension, a time might come when you will be the most experienced reference point of the team?”
Leclerc: “That’s funny, isn’t it? (smiles.) Time passes for everyone, including me. That moment will come, and I think that will be an additional motivation.”
“It has always motivated me to compete with the best drivers in the world. I have been lucky enough to have very strong teammates like Carlos, Seb, and Lewis, and I have learned something from all of them. But having a younger driver by my side would also be absolutely fine.”
Question: “When you look at your resume and see eight wins in eight seasons, do you feel more pride in what you have built, or regret for what slipped away on certain occasions?”
Leclerc: “Of course, I would like more wins and I would like to have won a World Championship. These are things I don’t have yet.”
“But I had the chance to drive for the team that has always made me dream. And I also think about the loyalty to the people who helped me at a crucial moment in my career, so that I am where I am today. If Ferrari hadn’t believed in me, I don’t know if I would be here now. That is very important to me.”
“Sure, I would like more successes in my career, but I believe everyone always wants a little more, even if they have already won a lot. It’s true that I still lack wins and a world championship title, and I want to achieve that. I hope it happens soon.”
Question: “Will you jump into the harbor on Sunday evening?”
Leclerc: “I hope so. That’s the goal. But above all, I hope to throw Fred into the sea too!”
Read more Leclerc extends at Ferrari: Right decision or dead end?