Charles Leclerc ignored Mercedes or Red Bull to duel Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari
Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz were told of Lewis ꦰHamilton's Ferrari talks which were ongoing for "mon🌊ths"
168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Charles Leclerc reportedly chose to stay at Ferrari, knowing 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Lewis Hamilton was coming, to directly take on his new teammat꧅e.
Lecler🦹c penned a multi-year contract to stay at Ferrari shortly ಞbefore Hamilton announced that he would join the Italian manufacturer in 2025.
Hamilton’s talks with Ferrari “had been going on under the radar for a few months”🌠, report.
Leclerc - and his current teammate Carlos Sainz, who was also in talks to sign a new Ferrari deal - were mad𓄧e 𒉰aware of the team’s negotiations with Hamilton, the report says.
President John Elkann and team principal Fred Vasseur told their cu✤rre🔴nt drivers about the situation.
Leclerc could have t🐷urned to Mercedes or Red Bull to claim their 2025 vꦗacancies during this period, knowing Hamilton was incoming, but chose not to.
“One of the reasons was Hamilton himself,” the Italian ✅newspaper reports.
Leclerc has told “people close to him” that directly competing 🐷with Hamilton in equal machinery is a great motivation to stay at Ferrari.
He remembers his 2019 Monza victory where he got the better of Hamilt✃on.
Leclerc knows that outperforming Hamilton next year as Ferrari drivers would dramatically increase his status and effectᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚively make him the team leader.
Leclerc is a𝔍lso “convinced” that 🌃Hamilton’s veteran knowledge can greatly improve development of the ‘25 Ferrari.
The Monegasque driver knows that the addition of Hamilton means Ferrari are investing heavily in winning ✤the F1 championship.
Hamilton’s arrival could spark the addition of engineers from rival teams, which Leclerc w🅘ould benefit from.
But Leclerc has given himself a P🎃lan B, the report clai🐠ms.
His new Ferrari contract includes a get-out clause which he can invoke after the 2026 season, if he deems that F﷽errari have not produced a winning car after one season of the new r🐬egulations.
Leclerc could then turn to Mercedes or Red Bull.
And Max Verstappen “has not vetoed a possiblౠe arrival of Leclerc at Red Bull”, t🦂he Italian media believe.
James was a sports journalist at Sky Sports for a decade covering everything from American sports, to football, ꦿto F1.
