F1 Team Announce Interest in Charles Leclerc amid Ferrari Exit Rumours
A surprise Formula 1 team have revealed their interest in signing Charles Leclerc following ongoing speculation that he could quit Ferrari.
Leclerc has been with Ferrari since 2019, securing eight race victories in that time, with his best championship finish coming in 2022, when he finished second.
However, this year has proved to be a challenge for both the team and the driver, with Ferrari yet to win a Grand Prix.
Leclerc currently sits fifth in the Drivers' Standings, a huge 163 points behind championship leader Oscar Piastri.
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It has created frustration for Leclerc, who admitted that the team were "badly struggling" with the car at the most recent race in Singapore. His manager Nicolas Todt recently admitted that Leclerc wants to race in a car that can compete for word titles.
Told told the Strait Times: “A lot of drivers are waiting to see how well each team will have worked, and how good their car will be to say ‘I want to stay in my team’ or ‘I want to go to another team because they are doing a better job'.
"Charles is one of the best talent of his generation, with Max and a few of the drivers.
"He’s not a baby any more because he has done a lot of seasons with Ferrari and of course, I think that we still need to have a winning car."
Todt added: “Today, we have a good car, but not enough to win the title...
"We hope it will happen and we hope next year Ferrari will have a very good car with the new regulations."
Meanwhile, Cadillac, who are set to enter Formula 1 next year, have expressed their interest in Leclerc, viewing him as one of the strongest drivers on the grid.
F1 legend and Cadillac director Mario Andretti said: "He's capable of winning races, and if he can do that, he's also capable of winning a championship, if he has the car."
Andretti acknowledged that the team must prove themselves before they are able to attract a driver of Leclerc's calibre.
"I would do it tomorrow, definitely, he added.
"I would welcome him with open arms.
"We need a couple of years, we have to deserve a talent like that."
It remains unclear whether Leclerc would leave the team he has represented for the past six years.
But he has clearly become frustrated by the car's performance over the course of this season.
The situation heaps pressure on team principal Fred Vasseur ahead of next year, when the new regulations are introduced.
Topics: Formula 1, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
James Taylor