Ferrari speak out on driver exit rumours amid Lewis Hamilton difficulties
A struggle for results has seen the pressure around Lewis Hamilton swell at Ferrari, but he isn't the only driver at Maranello with his name making the headlines
Ferrari boss Frederic Vasseur has grown weary of constant rumours suggesting Charles Leclerc might leave the team. He emphasised that the Monegasque driver is under a long-term contract with the Italian outfit despite persistent speculation about his future.
Leclerc, 27, currently holds fifth place in this season's Formula 1 drivers' standings, one spot and 25 points ahead of his team-mate, Lewis Hamilton. The seven-time world champion joined Maranello amid much hype at the start of 2025, but Leclerc remains the dominant force for the team so far this season and has only finished behind Hamilton once.
Both drivers were less than thrilled with their performance at the recent Canadian Grand Prix, where Leclerc and Hamilton finished fifth and sixth, respectively. In fact, Hamilton is yet to secure his first podium finish for Ferrari as the season reaches its halfway point, having largely struggled thus far.
Given these circumstances, it's logical Ferrari would want to retain Leclerc, who continues to outperform Hamilton despite the latter's high-profile arrival. When asked about his own future with the team, Vasseur took the opportunity to address the ongoing speculation surrounding his leading man.
"It's a good example to speak about Charles," he told the media after the Canadian GP. "Charles has a long-term contract with us.
"Every single interview from the beginning of the season, he's telling that he wants to stay with Ferrari. He wants to win with Ferrari. His future is with Ferrari.
"But every single Monday, we have an article telling that, 'Charles will go next year', 'Charles will...' At one stage, I don't know what we have to do. I'm sorry – I can't repeat every single weekend the same things. But it is like it is."
Leclerc penned a new deal with Ferrari in January 2024. The specifics of his contract's duration aren't known to the public, though there have been reports in the past suggesting it could be a five-year extension.
Leclerc himself expressed being "very surprised" at claims of his unhappiness. And he recently reiterated his desire to lead Ferrari to the pinnacle of F1 once again.
"I have no idea where it's coming from," he recently told reporters. "So, I'll rather just ignore it. But I've never said anything of this in the last few races. If anything, I keep saying how much I love the team and how much I want to bring back Ferrari to the top. I was just surprised."
In contrast, Hamilton signed an initial two-year deal at Maranello, which reportedly may extend to a third. Nonetheless, Ferrari might face a tough call come the close of the 2026 season if their fortunes don't take a sharp upward turn within the next year or so.
Having joined Ferrari's driver academy at 18, Leclerc continues to be a loyal servant as he looks to crack the F1 hierarchy. And despite Ferrari still not clinching a victory so far in 2025, all signs point towards a lasting bond between the team and their top driver.
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