Follow us on Google Discover A few months ago, no one would have expected Ferrari star Charles Leclerc to potentially be at the centre of next year’s driver market.
Charles Leclerc has spent nearly the entirety of his Formula 1 career racing for Ferrari.
The Monegasque driver was scouted by Ferrari during his junior career and, after a year at Sauber, was brought in to replace Kimi Raikkonen as Sebastian Vettel’s teammate.
Known among Ferrari fans as ‘Il Predestinato’, the Predestined One, Leclerc has watched Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris overtake his wins tally this season, and Fred Vasseur’s team slip down the constructors’ championship.
Leclerc has signed a long-term deal at Ferrari, but it’s clear that the 27-year-old is beginning to lose patience.
Position Constructors’ Standings PointsPts 1 650 2 325 3 300 4 290 5 102 6 72 7 66 8 55 9 46 10 20
At the end of the Singapore Grand Prix, Leclerc admitted Ferrari had no chance of winning races this year, and this has led to speculation about his future.
Leclerc has been linked to Mercedes and Red Bull since the race in Singapore for the 2027 season.
It would be the ultimate sign that Ferrari are lost if Leclerc departs, and commentator Alex Jacques has shared the ‘obvious’ next step for the Monegasque driver if he decides to leave.
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Photo by Mark Sutton – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty ImagesCharles Leclerc told to sign for either Aston Martin or a Mercedes-powered team if he leaves Ferrari
Jacques was asked on The Race F1 Podcast where Leclerc would have to force a move if Ferrari don’t live up to expectations next year, and he said: “Honestly, I think he would have to, on the evidence of his time with Ferrari, have to seriously consider a move.
“And if it goes the way that many in the paddock are thinking, he’s looking for a Mercedes power unit. That’s what I think he would have to consider.
“It’s worth mentioning Fernando Alonso in all of this, because he’s like a ghost of Christmas past, isn’t he? When they’re on a driver’s parade with him, and they’re like, man, they all know how good Fernando is, and they all know that he’s got fewer titles than he should have.
“And that’s getting the career move wrong a couple of times, and that can leave you, 44, just being brilliant and giving us very entertaining team radio, but without a chance to compete for titles.
Position Drivers’ Championship PointsPts 1 336 2 314 3 273 4 237 5 173 6 127 7 88 8 70 9 39 10 37
“If this goes wrong, he’s 27 now, he’s 28, I think this month, so you’re looking at he’s 30 years old, there’s still time to put it right. Get the career move wrong, and you’re getting towards the mid-30s, you might not ever get a shake at a championship.
“We’re not talking about. It didn’t work out, and it all fell apart late into the season. We’re talking about not even getting a proper chance to fight for a world championship.
“So, he’s going to have to consider a move, and the obvious one is, do you fancy a go with Adrian Newey-designed Aston Martin, or do you try and plump for a Mercedes power unit?
“A lot of people will be very interested in signing Charles Leclerc, especially given, we’re going to get a rules reset. Imagine how effective Charles Leclerc would have been in what has been, at points this year, a qualifying championship.”
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Ferrari chairman makes ‘guarantee’ about F1 team’s future amid Charles Leclerc speculation
Hamilton will believe that he can win an eighth world championship with Ferrari next season if they build a competitive enough car.
He’s closed the gap to Leclerc in recent races, but if that doesn’t transpire, then he can still walk away from Formula 1 as the sport’s most successful driver.
The 2026 regulations have far bigger implications for Leclerc and his legacy.
TEAMDRIVER 1DRIVER 2AlpinePierre GaslyN/AAston MartinFernando AlonsoLance StrollAudiGabriel BortoletoNico HulkenbergCadillacValtteri BottasSergio PerezFerrariCharles LeclercLewis HamiltonHaasEsteban OconOliver BearmanMcLarenLando NorrisOscar PiastriMercedesN/AN/ARacing BullsN/AN/ARed Bull RacingMax VerstappenN/AWilliamsAlex AlbonCarlos Sainz2026 confirmed F1 drivers
Chairman John Elkann has made guarantees about Ferrari’s future amid speculation about Leclerc potentially leaving.
In an ideal world, Leclerc commits his long-term future to Ferrari as one of the most talented drivers on the grid.
However, the team simply aren’t delivering on their side of the bargain. Next year will see Verstappen, George Russell, both McLaren drivers and even Fernando Alonso aiming to become world champion.
Ferrari have to make sure Leclerc and Hamilton are also in that conversation, otherwise things will get very complicated.