F1 News: Charles Leclerc Addresses Ferrari Exit Rumours

Charles Leclerc has spoken out on the recent rumours of him moving to Mercedes.

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc has addressed the circulating rumours about his potential move to Mercedes, confirming that he is focused on helping the Maranello-based squad get back to the top. 

Rather than considering a shift, Leclerc is committed to continuing his journey with Ferrari. Despite experiencing a challenging season so far he remains focused on his long-term goal: the world championship title. 

The Monegasque driver expressed during an interview with The Guardian:

“I am the first one who wants to be in a title fight,” confirming his ambition to reclaim Ferrari's top position in racing – a spot they haven't held for five years. 

Leclerc maintains his focus on elevating Ferrari's performance, stating:

"I am even more motivated to change that, to bring Ferrari back to where it deserves to be, which is consistently on top. Once we get there I am sure it will be a very, very special moment.”

This expression of commitment dismisses rumours about his move to Mercedes, reinforcing his dedication to his current team. 

Leclerc is currently sitting in seventh position in the drivers' standings with 74 points, behind Mercedes driver George Russell who sits in sixth position with 82 points. 

Silly season rumours have reached a new height with Nyck de Vries' shocking exit from AlphaTauri this week. The Italian team has brought back Daniel Ricciardo which many believe is a move to add pressure on to Red Bull's Sergio Perez and also ready Ricciardo in case he needs to replace the Mexican driver for 2024. 

On top of this, there are rumours of Lando Norris being in a 'pre-contract' with Ferrari, Leclerc's teammate Carlos Sainz moving to Audi in 2026, and Leclerc making a move to Mercedes once Lewis Hamilton heads into retirement.