Translation:
Charles Leclerc reportedly renewed his contract with Scuderia Ferrari . In detail, it is a firm 2025-2026 agreement and 2027-2028-2029 in the form of options. For some time now, the Monegasque driver’s entourage has been probing the paddock. Discussions with Mercedes, Aston Martin, Alpine and even Red Bull have taken place. The German manufacturer’s option was the most serious, in the event of a replacement for Lewis Hamilton, Toto Wolff believes that Charles Leclerc is a good candidate to face Max Verstappen in the future. This is what the whole paddock thinks.
His current contract expiring in 2024, the pilot had already had a certain largesse this year. Mattia Binotto, before his ousting and to compensate for the terrible second half of the season at Scuderia Ferrari, had agreed to anticipate his driver’s remuneration schedule. Clearly, Leclerc receives in 2023, what he was to receive in 2024, i.e. 20 million euros , according to our Business Book GP partner . Thus indicating the basic value of a future contract and above all the beginning of an anticipation of discussions. A contract that was quickly negotiated to be finally accepted in recent weeks.
A 5-year contract extension would have been concluded between the two parties. On the Monegasque side, the ambition is to see the market come by 2026. On the Scuderia side, securing its spearhead and a motivation to keep it in the long term. The second part of the contract in the form of an option will, in the form of performance clauses, release Charles Leclerc from his Ferrari contract each season. Remuneration remains. Early rumors point to a contract total of over 185 million euros ($220 million) and compensation that could reach 50 million euros in the final year.
I think he still has to prove that he’d be a serious contender. He’s making dumb mistakes even without the pressure of a championship, drivers like Max or Lewis who are used to it would just tear him apart over the length of a season. I don’t see Charles winning 21.
This assumes it’s a close fight of course, if he was driving the current RB he’d probably still be #1, but I think it’d be a lot closer.
I feel like I have to preface this with mentioning I’m a Max fan since 2015.
I honestly think Charles might be the better pure race driver than Max, as in: one lap performance, overtaking, smarts in wheel to wheel racing. But Max is a long distance driver, which translates to him being better at winning races and even entire seasons. He seems much more involved with the team in getting that championship winning car than Charles, this might be more due to Ferrari though.
In any case, I so much want Charles to get a great car, because ever since Silverstone 2019 I’ve wanted nothing more than to watch those two bang wheels for a couple seasons.
Indeed. Early 2022 was so promising!
I’ve noticed something quite similar myself.
Charles definitely has impressive speed, but it’s hard to overlook the occasional errors he makes. It seems like he’s determined to learn and improve, yet there are moments when he prioritizes speed over sound decision-making.
Comparing him to drivers like Vettel, Hamilton, Verstappen, and Alonso, you can clearly witness how they’ve matured and adjusted their strategies over time, all the way to becoming champions.
And that is something I still don’t see with Leclerc.