Nicolas Todt is very clear: “Charles is one of the best talents of his generation, but he is no longer a kid. I hope that the Red team has a competitive car next season”
Winning a title with Ferrari is Charles Leclerc’s declared dream. The Monegasque has repeated it several times since 2019, his first year in Maranello, even if so far the opportunities to aim for the big target have not been numerous. There will certainly be another attempt next season, when the new regulations will perhaps establish different hierarchies in the F1 World Championship. If, however, Ferrari is not competitive, Leclerc’s position could change with a view to 2027. This was made clear by Charles’ manager, Nicolas Todt.
CHANGE
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During the Singapore GP, held last weekend, the Frenchman spoke about Leclerc’s situation. In an interview with the Straits Times newspaper, he admitted: “Charles is one of the best talents of his generation, together with Max Verstappen and other drivers. But he is no longer a kid: he has been racing with Ferrari for many seasons. We need a winning car.” So Leclerc, who is about to turn 28 on October 16, is not willing to wait any longer. A concept reiterated by another consideration from Todt: “Today Ferrari has a valid car, but not enough to win the World Championship. We hope that this can happen soon. We hope that already next year, with the new rules, Ferrari will have a competitive car.”
HOT MARKET
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The French manager’s words come after Leclerc’s recent outbursts, who appeared rather nervous. They also provide a good overview of the drivers’ market, which is set to explode from next season. 2026 will represent a puzzle for everyone, but, once measures have been taken with the new F1, it is reasonable to expect upheavals. Todt adds: “Many drivers will want to see how competitive the various teams will be before deciding whether to stay or change teams. I expect a very hot market.” So all the teams are warned: experiencing an unexciting season could have repercussions on the drivers’ choices for 2027.
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