The whirlwind of F1’s “silly season” is in full swing, with new rumors, speculations, and talking points every day. Fresh off the Lewis Hamilton contract resolution, attention has now veered towards Charles Leclerc. The Monegasque driver’s deal is set to expire in 2024. Indications from inside the Ferrari camp suggest that an extension might not be as straightforward as one might assume. Despite rumors floating around about a whopping $204 million multi-year contract, Leclerc candidly revealed ahead of the home Grand Prix that his renewal currently isn’t on Ferrari’s priority list.

This might seem baffling to many, considering Leclerc’s talent, potential, and past record with the team. However, a recent episode of the BBC’s F1 Chequered Flag podcast shed some light on Leclerc’s emotional attachment to the iconic Maranello outfit.

When probed about his relationship with Ferrari and if he ever doubted his decision to be with the team, Leclerc responded, “Absolutely not.” He reiterated the dream of every driver to be part of the Ferrari legacy and emphasized his personal aim: to clinch a world championship title wearing red. Despite the challenging times and a performance gap with top-tier teams like Red Bull, Leclerc’s loyalty and commitment to Ferrari remain unwavering.

The 25-year-old credits the team for its trust, having given him an F1 seat early in his career, saying, “Ferrari has helped me before I got into Formula 1, believed in me, and put me in the Ferrari seat very early on. And it’s always a team that I’ve loved.” Digging deeper into his emotional bond with Ferrari, Leclerc opened up about the influence of the late Jules Bianchi, a family friend and a former member of the Ferrari Driver Academy, on his career. He reminisced about how Ferrari stood by both of them during their early days, with the team even funding his racing pursuits in 2014 and 2015. 

On top of the shared history, Leclerc’s personal affinity for Italy makes his bond with the team even more profound. As he charmingly put it in the podcast, “I’ve always been a fan of the team when I was younger. My dad also was a huge fan of Ferrari. And all of this makes it special, but even apart from all of that, I’ve always loved the team and I’ve always had a very special relationship with Italy also.” While the bond between Leclerc and the Scuderia seems deep-rooted, recent events at the Circuit Zandvoort might cast a different light on their immediate future. 

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Charles Leclerc and Co.’s challenge: Unraveling the SF-23’s mysteries at Zandvoort

In a bid to unearth the hidden potential of their 2023 challenger, Scuderia Ferrari spent much of Friday’s practice at the Circuit Zandvoort examining various car set-ups. This effort was in part to avoid a challenging weekend for Leclerc who eventually had a severe crash during qualifying. Speaking about the events, Leclerc stated (as per Crash.net), “Many lessons were learned from Zandvoort, but the race wasn’t truly indicative of the car’s capabilities as my front wing went under the floor, causing significant damage. I was left with virtually no grip.”

Following his qualifying mishap, a perplexed Leclerc admitted to having “zero idea” how his Ferrari would navigate the corners. “It’s challenging on tracks where we require more downforce. The car’s balance can alter dramatically, even in the same corner, making it hard for a driver to anticipate the car’s behavior,” he explained.

Zandvoort may not have been the ideal race for Ferrari, but Leclerc remains hopeful for the upcoming race in Monza, Ferrari’s home ground. Drawing a parallel to another circuit, he observed, “Monza shares more similarities with Spa than it does with Zandvoort or Budapest in terms of track characteristics.” On the team’s prospects at Monza, Leclerc said, “I’m hopeful we’ll fare better here. I can’t definitively say if we’ll be vying for the podium, but we’re committed to giving our all.”

Ferrari’s quest to unlock the full potential of the SF-23 continues. The Temple of Speed awaits, and with it, the hope that the iconic Italian team can reclaim its renowned prowess. The Tifosi will be watching keenly, cheering for their home heroes.

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