Charles Leclerc ‘always on the radar’ for Mercedes but not a current priority says Toto Wolff
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ByEurosport
Published 03/05/2023 at 09:26 GMT
The future of Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc is the subject of intense speculation at the moment with the Monegasque star not yet renewing his contract that is set to expire at the end of next season. Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff has said that the team will always monitor a driver like Leclerc but that he is not their priority at the moment as they focus on Lewis Hamilton.
Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) - GP of Azerbaidjan 2023
Image credit: Getty Images
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has said that a driver like Charles Leclerc is someone that is “always on the radar” but admitted that the Monegasque driver is not a priority for his team at the moment.
Leclerc, 25, is the subject of intense speculation regarding his future at Ferrari, with the Italian giants regularly failing to provide him with a car that can compete with world champion Max Verstappen and Red Bull.
Leclerc’s contract with Ferrari expires after the 2024 season and there has been no movement on a new deal, leading to the speculation that he might look elsewhere.
The pressure is on Ferrari to show Leclerc that they can provide a car that can compete, particularly with the new engine regulations coming into effect in 2026.
That has naturally led to links to other teams, including Mercedes given that seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton is yet to sign a new deal with the team.
Speaking at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Wolff admitted you have to be aware of what is going on with Leclerc, but that their priority at the moment is extending Hamilton.
“Charles is a super guy and, for the long-term future, someone you need to always have on your radar, and that's clear. But not for the short and the medium term.
“I think nobody doubts Charles' ability. He is a good guy.
The only time I talked with him was when we discussed where the gate is in Melbourne when we boarded the plane. No contact otherwise.
“I think he's 100% committed and loyal to Ferrari with his contract - and in the same way, we are 100% committed to putting pen to paper with Lewis.
“I think he [Hamilton] feels very much that he's strong, and we feel the same.
“We are not going to race for a drivers’ championship this year. That is what it looks like at the moment, and we just need to give him a car that can do that.
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Toto Wolff (l.) and Lewis Hamilton
Image credit: Getty Images
“Hopefully, we can get our package to a winning package this season and then have something that can bring him his eighth title.
“I've no doubt that he's motivated to achieve that. So that's what he loves to do. That is his ability. We have a great relationship, personally myself with him and within the team. It's one of the strong pillars in the last 10 years. So we're in a really good place.”
The current grid offers little obvious opportunity for Leclerc were he to leave Ferrari.
Both his and team-mate Carlos Sainz’s contracts expire in 2024, the same date as Verstappen’s Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez, but being a back-up to Verstappen might not be attractive to Leclerc.
Whilst Hamilton’s contract at Mercedes expires this year, his team-mate George Russell is on a “multi-year” deal.
Meanwhile, at the fourth fastest team this season, Aston Martin, Fernando Alonso is also on a “multi-year” deal whilst Lance Stroll is the son of owner Lawrence so his seat can be assumed as untouchable.
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