Despite speculations tying the Monegasque to other teams, most notably Mercedes, recently appointed Scuderia Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has said that extending Charles Leclerc’s contract is not an immediate priority for him.

Until the completion of the 2024 season, Charles Leclerc is bound to the Prancing Horse. He has been linked to a transfer to Mercedes with fewer than two years remaining, where he is anticipated to succeed Lewis Hamilton when the British driver retires.

However, Charles Leclerc has always expressed his affection for Ferrari and declared that racing for them was his ‘dream.’ He said to L’Equipe”

“2024 is still far off, and Ferrari still has some time before that. My dream team has always been this one. My current goal is to triumph with Ferrari. Next, we’ll decide. I am thrilled to be working with Ferrari, and I want to win with them.”

Fred Vasseur and Charles Leclerc have a history together since Vasseur served as Leclerc’s junior career coach. In 2018, he also made his Formula One debut with the Sauber team, which used the Alfa Romeo logo. Vasseur was the team principal at the time.

Fred Vasseur downplayed the significance of a contract extension for Charles Leclerc in his first interview with the media since taking over the reins of Ferrari. According to Fred Vasseur, Crash.net:

“I don’t want to discuss Charles Leclerc’s contract extension today; I don’t believe it would be a good way to begin working together. To achieve success, we must concentrate on the sporting aspect. Similarly to a wedding, if everyone at the table is satisfied with the current circumstances, we will move on.”

According to team principal Frederic Vasseur, Charles Leclerc is not Ferrari’s best driver

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Charles Leclerc won’t be the team’s primary driver for the 2019 season, according to Fred Vasseur. He disclosed that the team will function without a driver hierarchy, much as they did in 2022.

Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz have both received “very clear” instructions from the team’s 54-year-old leader that they will be treated equally. He said to Sky Italia:

“Winning is the team’s aim; this is the team’s policy with Ferrari and for Ferrari. I’ve already discussed this with the drivers, Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc. It is quite apparent that we will treat them equally and assist both of them in the same manner.”

The Frenchman did say that the team would change its plan if Leclerc or Sainz performed noticeably better than the other.

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