Both Ferrari drivers’ contracts expire at the end of 2024 and the team is in no hurry to renew them. Against this background, for example, various rumors are circulating about Audi’s interest in Carlos Sainz, but all this is refuted in other sources.
After the first 12 races of the season, which is not easy for the Scuderia, Charles Leclerc has 99 points and is 5th in the individual standings. His teammate earned a little less – Carlos has 92 points and he is a few lines down.
Outsiders can sometimes get the impression that Charles and Carlos are not on good terms, but in a recent interview with Corriere della Sera, Leclerc assured that this is not the case.
“If Carlos decides to leave the team, he will be wrong,” said Charles. “I can work quite well with him, even though there is an intense rivalry between us. He is distinguished by a very correct attitude to work and perseverance.”
Leclerc himself emphasizes that he intends to play for the team from Maranello for a long time: “It is not just about the love for Ferrari, which I have always had and still have. I talk about many things with Frederic Vasseur, we discuss plans for the future. We are united in this. I know what’s ahead, so I have a confident attitude. I love this team and want to win with it. This is my priority.”
It is sometimes said that Charles gets offers from other teams, but he doesn’t pay attention to that: “Of course this just says that I do my job well. But such conversations don’t bother me at all, because I know what I want. But I still don’t know what Ferrari wants from me. Negotiations on a new contract have not even started yet, although everything is perfectly clear to me.
Despite all the advantage of Max Verstappen this season, Leclerc is sure that it is very possible to compete with him: “He can be beaten, we have already succeeded. We have to keep working to close the gap between him and Red Bull.”
At the same time, Charles’ closest rival in the individual standings is Lewis Hamilton, and the Ferrari driver spoke about the differences in driving style between the seven-time world champion and Verstappen: “Max always drives on the edge of what is allowed, and I like this approach. He is aggressive and duels with him are always bright.
On the other hand, Lewis is very thoughtful on the track. This is also reflected in the way he positions the car in corners. He is less aggressive, but at the same time more prone to analysis. If he didn’t attack you at one point on the track, it was only because he was already planning to do so on another section, where it would be easier to overtake successfully.
Source: F1 News
I am Christopher Clyde, an experienced journalist and content writer with a passion for sports. I have been writing about Formula 1 news for the past five years and am currently employed as an author at athletistic.com, one of the top sports websites in the US.
