Charles Leclerc has been explaining why he feels so passionately loyal to Ferrari, and the reasons behind his decision to sign a long-term deal that will reportedly keep him at Maranello until 2029.
Leclerc was part of the Ferrari Driver Academy when he won the GP3 and F2 championships. He made his Formula 1 debut with Sauber in 2018 and moved to Ferrari the following season, claiming his first F1 victory in the 2019 Bahrain GP.
Since then the 26-year-old Monegasque has looked very much the centre piece of the Ferrari operation, and their big hope for the future of the team that hasn't won a constructors title since 2008.
Leclerc's latest contract extension came before news broke of Lewis Hamilton's decision to leave Mercedes and join Ferrari in 2025, but Leclerc insists that he's as committed to the team - and they to him - as ever.
"I love Ferrari, that's for sure, and I think that's clear to everybody," Leclerc told the media this week at Ferrari's official 2024 launch event
"It feels like a family," he continued. "But most of all, because they were the first people to believe in me straight from even before I got to Formula 1.
"They gave me the opportunity to get into F1, they gave me the opportunity of being a Ferrari driver, and getting a car that was good enough to get my first pole position and my first win," he continued.
Leclerc is very close to Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur. But putting he history aside, more important to Leclerc's decision to commit to Ferrari long-term is his faith in the team being able to develop a title-winning car.
"More than anything, I think what made me sign for a longer contract is because I believe in the project," he stated. "Otherwise, I wouldn't have done that.
"I believe we have the best chance in order to become the best car on the grid in the next years," he stated. "This is why I renewed with Ferrari."
Leclerc confirmed that he had been aware of the team's negotiations with Hamilton before the news went public, and thought that having the seven-time world champion at Ferrari would be a big help all round.
"It was good that the team was transparent anyway, just for me to not learn [about Hamilton’s signing] after that, but it didn’t change anything for me.
"Lewis is an incredible driver, the most successful in history, with a lot of experience as well, which he will bring to the team and obviously myself, which is a good thing.
"We’ve had discussions with Lewis, especially when everything was announced and official. We texted each other of course," he added.
“For the rest, I don’t want to comment on it much, mostly out of respect for Carlos [Sainz]. We’ve had great years together and we have one more together to do. We will do absolutely everything to finish on the highest note possible."
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