Leclerc: 'No contract talks whatsoever' with Ferrari during break

Charles Leclerc says that contrary to reports that emerged in some media earlier this month, he has had "no contract talks whatsoever" yet with Ferrari.

A story claiming that Leclerc had inked a new five-year deal with Ferrari worth an estimated $200 million made the rounds of the internet during F1's summer break and the falsehood was even picked up by a few specialized websites.

Speaking to the media in Zandvoort on Thursday ahead of this weekend's Dutch Grand Prix, Leclerc joked that he wished that the report was true given the lofty nine-figure number that was cited.

"I wish I did this [rumoured] deal because it looks like a good deal!" he said.

"But there are no new deals and no discussion whatsoever. But at one point, we'll definitely have those discussions.

"I think my intentions are clear. And then on the team side, I don't know, but I'm not too worried either."

• Read also: Ferrari 'fully aligned' with Sainz on contract talks

Leclerc, who is contracted to Ferrari until the end of 2024, made clear that his and his team's current focus was on improving the performance of the Scuderia's SF-23 car.

"It's not a priority for now," he added. "For now, we just want to try and work as much as possible on the car to get back to where we were last year, which was to fight for wins.

"Then we'll see. But at the end of the season, for sure, we'll have those discussions."

Leclerc admitted to feeling comfortable with his current situation at Ferrari and being in no rush to put pen to paper.

"Honestly, I don't even have any deadlines," he explained. "I'm not that rushed.

"I still have a year and a half, which seems little in a way because I've had a contract for five years. So now we are getting closer to the end. But it's still plenty of time.

"I'm not concerned. If I was worried, I probably would have started the discussion early. But I'm not too worried. It'll be all fine.

"We haven't started the discussion, but I'm happy to do it at the end of the year."

Leclerc said Ferrari and himself had mutually agreed not to address the topic of his future for the time being as there are more pressing matters to focus on.

"Basically, we don't speak to each other about this," he said.

"Neither I do, and neither they do. So basically, it's both of us have decided that way and I think it's the right way. As I said, there's no rush."

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