“We have to keep an eye on Ferrari. They’re only 20 points behind us.” is what George Russell had to say after the Maranello outfit sealed the front row for the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix. But for anyone who is following Russell’s watchful eye on the Scuderia this weekend, their journey in Sin City has been nothing short of a roller coaster.

Proceedings at the Vegas Street Circuit began for the Scarlet team with a literal bang, as Carlos Sainz’s SF23 grazed a loose manhole cover in FP1. The Tifosi were distraught and unsure if the Spaniard’s car would be fixed in time for the remaining crucial practice sessions, but the Maranello outfit bounced back as quickly as they fell. Amidst Fred Vasseur’s relief, the ultimate winner from all of this is Charles Leclerc, whose contract renewal with the Scuderia was hinted at after a dazzling Las Vegas GP performance.

Charles Leclerc’s contract with Ferrari could see an extension despite recent heartbreaks

After the Monegasque’s Vegas pole equaled Niki Lauda’s 23 pole positions for Ferrari, Leclerc is the biggest contender on the current grid for a multi-year renewal with the Scuderia. In the history of the Scarlet team, only Michael Schumacher has scored more poles for them. The Monegasque’s pole-to-win conversion rate has been the laughing stock for a while, but it’s hardly been due to Leclerc’s fault.

Whenever the Monegasque has been provided with the right set-up, he’s been on top of his game, arguably even better than Carlos Sainz, despite the Spaniard bringing in Ferrari’s only win this season. When he entered the doors of Maranello, he had one clear goal in mind, to fulfill his godfather, Jules Bianchi’s lifelong dream – winning a world championship with Ferrari.

However, after years of losing out to poor strategy calls and unreliability issues, Charles Leclerc has grown tired of luck not favoring the No.16 driver. But the Vegas GP pole could be his redemption arc.

After Charles Leclerc pleased the Vegas crowd with a stellar lap, his contract renewal prospects worth $215 million were further solidified by Sky F1 Italy commentator, Carlo Vanzini, who shared “Leclerc, as we know, he’s been tied to Ferrari his whole life. We will hear about his multi-year renewal very, very soon”.

READ MORE: Despite “Sh*t Job”, Charles Leclerc Hunts Down Fernando Alonso’s Record in Elite List at Las Vegas GP

Even though Charles Leclerc has a contract with the Scuderia until the end of 2024, the need to secure such a brilliant talent is a no-brainer. But Charles Leclerc’s performance at the Las Vegas GP has not only left a contract extension up in the air, it has also caused Mercedes a major headache.

Ferrari adds to George Russell and Co’s. misery in Sin City

It’s no secret that Mercedes is leading the rest of the field in the wake of Verstappen’s dominance, but that lead has been steadily slipping. While Lewis Hamilton has been able to extract every ounce of performance out of the W14, it hasn’t been enough to keep the Prancing Horses at bay. Whenever the Ferraris have a good weekend, they are usually untouchable for the eight-time constructor’s champions.

But Toto Wolff and Co. cannot lose out to the Scuderia in the crucial closing stages of the 2023 season. Only 20 points separate the Brackley outfit from the Tifosi’s pride and joy, all of which could come undone at the hands of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz. Whilst Fred Vasseur had the last laugh after qualifying, the Brackley outfit was struggling to come to terms with Hamilton’s Q2 exit.

George Russell further expressed the dilemma that the Maranello outfit has put Mercedes in, “They should’ve been on for a 1-2 tomorrow. Charles is definitely the number one favourite for the race, so for us, it’s damage limitation.”  The younger Silver Arrow believes their constructor’s position could fall prey to Ferrari sooner than Abu Dhabi, speculating that the odds would be against them heading into the season finale.

WATCH THIS STORY | How Long Will Charles Leclerc Wait for Ferrari – Will He Leave for Some Other team Post-2024?

Although Russell has appointed Charles Leclerc as the favorite for the maiden Vegas GP win, the Scuderia could find themselves hunted down by Max Verstappen who has a better race pace.