BRAZIL: In a recent report from Italy, it has been suggested that Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur’s top priority is to persuade Charles Leclerc to extend his contract with the team, amidst a flurry of potential offers from other teams. Leclerc, alongside his teammate Carlos Sainz, is set to see his current contract with the Scuderia come to an end after the next year’s season.
While Sainz has indicated that talks regarding a new deal for himself will commence post-season, Leclerc’s stance has been resolute in expressing his desire to don the red of Ferrari and clinch the World Championship.
However, doubts have begun to creep into Leclerc’s mind, particularly following his recent crash at the weekend, further raising questions about Ferrari’s championship prospects in the coming seasons.
A reputed Italian outlet has reported Leclerc’s concerns that committing to a new contract beyond 2024 might hinder his chances of contending for the World Championship. This sentiment is compounded by a series of reliability issues he has encountered throughout the current season, the most recent being a hydraulic problem that sent him spinning into the wall during the formation lap at Interlagos.
While initial discussions regarding a new deal between Leclerc and Ferrari have taken place, Vasseur faces the challenge of providing concrete assurances to convince Leclerc to stay with the team beyond next year.
The report quotes, “Charles will have dispelled his anger, but not his doubts, which he confided to an inner circle, about his chances of becoming World Champion with Ferrari shortly.” It emphasizes the significance of 2024 as a pivotal year for Vasseur and underscores the urgency in solidifying Leclerc’s commitment to the team, as the Monégasque driver remains an asset highly sought after by other competitors in the Formula 1 paddock.
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