Charles Leclerc says he will never ditch Ferrari to be in Max Verstappen’s position

Charles Leclerc is ambitious to win the championship with Scuderia Ferrari.

Charles Leclerc says he will never ditch Ferrari to be in Max Verstappen’s position

Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc (Via IMAGO)

Throughout the 2023 Formula One season, Ferrari has encountered many disappointments, resulting in their unfortunate position as the fifth-fastest team on the grid. Charles Leclerc, who valiantly fought for the championship in 2022, wasn’t spared as well.  He currently resides in the fifth spot among the drivers’ standings with three podiums, having accumulated 99 points.

It places him behind the trio of Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, and Sergio Perez, who have secured 148, 149, and 189 points, respectively. This deficit further underscores the team’s uphill battle as they strive to regain their competitive edge and ascend the championship standings. Even the mid-table teams easily outraced them in some race weeks.

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Recently, when asked if he would desire to be in Max Verstappen’s position, who has been dominating the whole season,  Charles Leclerc expressed that he would never consider swapping positions. He emphasizes that being a Ferrari driver has always been his lifelong dream, and he remains resolute in winning the world title with them.

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“I would never swap with him, in the sense that being a Ferrari driver has always been my dream, and becoming world champion with Ferrari is my goal. I know that right now, I don’t have the car to fight with Max, but I have no doubts that my path is right. I’ll look at my career when I stop, but I have no regrets or remorse, I’m happy at Ferrari,” he said, as reported by Formulapassion.com.

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Charles Leclerc eagerly anticipates his first race victory

Ferrari
Ferrari (Credits: The New York Times)

At Zandvoort, Max Verstappen aims for his ninth consecutive win, aspiring to match Sebastian Vettel’s 2013 record while already boasting ten victories this season. In stark contrast to Verstappen’s triumphant journey, Charles Leclerc finds himself amid a different narrative of aspiration and anticipation for his first victory of the season

Leclerc remains determined to achieve his breakthrough win this season. Charles Leclerc acknowledges the difficulties in catching up to Red Bull. He asserts, “They have a really big margin, and it’s going to be very difficult to catch them before the change of regulations (in 2026).”

While he has shown many times he is loyal to Ferrai; he hasn’t signed a contract extension with the team. The team hasn’t even started negotiations yet as their current priority is to get him and his teammate Carlos Sainz a car capable of winning.

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