Leclerc has responded to the rumors that Hamilton will make a big move to Ferrari in 2024.
Both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton have responded to rumors that the seven-time Formula 1 World Champion might switch to Ferrari.
Given that his agreement with Mercedes expires at the end of 2023, Hamilton has been connected to moving to Maranello for some time. This week, rumors emerged that Ferrari is offering Hamilton an impressive sum in an effort to bring him to Italy for the 2024 season.
Team manager Frederic Vasseur strongly denied that Hamilton has been approached, and the racers themselves have dismissed the claims.
Hamilton’s reaction to reports
He explained to the media, including RacingNews365, that speculation was inevitable when talks about contracts were taking place.
“Ultimately, tnless you hear [an update] from me, then that’s what it is.
“A certain individual in this [press] room has written at least one of [the rumours] and maybe with the [Emilia Romagna Grand Prix] being cancelled, maybe they just bored.
“But my team is working closely behind the scenes with Toto [Wolff].
“We’re almost at the end of having a contract ready, and having my team focus on that so I can just do my job is much better position than I was in before.
“I used to do my negotiations on my own, and it was very stressful – so I don’t have to do that anymore.
“[The negotiations are] not really stuff that I can talk about, to be honest.
“But as I said, this is the first time I’ve not been negotiating myself. I’ve got a great team in the background that are doing all the work so I can just focus fully on the job at hand.
“I say what I want and that’s what we’re working towards – and so hopefully in the coming weeks [there’ll be an announcement.]
“My team are chatting, having discussions with [Mercedes] in the background, and we are almost there.”
Hamilton would be warmly welcomed by Leclerc
Leclerc said that he was fine with Carlos Sainz, currently his teammate, but stated that he would enjoy having a racer of Lewis Hamilton’s calibre as a teammate.
“A fast teammate, as everybody, we are in Formula 1 and we love to be fighting against the best,” Leclerc said.
“But that is not to say that my teammate is not fast – Carlos is an extremely fast driver – but considering I’m not the person who makes the choices, let’s see.
“If I say yes [to welcoming Hamilton], I imagine it will be the title in every newspaper, but Lewis is such an incredible driver and has achieved so much in the sport.
“Anybody on the grid will love to have Lewis as a teammate and everybody will learn a lot from him.
“But again, I’m happy with where I am – and with Carlos it is a great relationship to have.”
Regarding his own contract with Ferrari, which runs at the end of 2024, Leclerc noted that he regularly discusses the “vision for the future” with Ferrari chairman John Elkann, but that there is “still a lot of time” before that moment comes.
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F1, F1 2023, FIA, Formula 1, Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
