Charles Leclerc has refused to discuss extending his deal with Ferrari beyond 2024 at the moment, claiming it is “too early” for him to consider his future at the team or elsewhere on the grid.
“It’s not that I’m tired, I’m aware of how lucky I am to be at Ferrari,” Leclerc insisted.
“I’m happy. But in the same way, I want to win and I’m not happy with the performance of the last few years. It has not been consistent.
“In 2020 and 2021, the situation was clear because of what we were missing. But now it is different. We have not taken the step we expected.
Want to work in Formula 1? Browse the latest F1 job vacancies
“We have the explanations, but recovering will be something else.
“If we’re both happy to continue, it will happen. But it’s too early to talk about that.”
The comment from the Monegasque comes after media reports that he is weighing a move to Mercedes should Lewis Hamilton leave the team or retire from Formula 1.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff denied the rumours during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, claiming that he only briefly spoke to Leclerc in passing at an airport recently.
Wolff denied that the conversation had been about a potential seat swap, stating, once again, his faith in Lewis Hamilton extending his current deal with the team.
“We have a great relationship and together with the team he has been a solid pillar for the last ten years, so we are well placed,” Wolff said.
“I hope we can make our package a winning package and have something that can bring him an eighth world title.
“We have no doubt that he is motivated enough to achieve it.”
However, Wolff admitted that Leclerc will remain on his radar for the future should an opening at the Silver Arrows emerge.
“I think he is 100 percent faithful to his contract with Ferrari,” Wolff said.
“Just as we 100 percent intend to put pen to paper with Lewis.
“You should always have a guy like Charles on your radar, but not in the short or medium term.”
Read: George Russell warns sprint will dilute Formula 1
Leclerc experienced a bit of a comeback in Azerbaijan, taking pole position in the Sprint race and the Grand Prix, showing Ferrari has strong qualifying potential.
However, Ferrari failed to meet the race pace of the Red Bulls, losing out to Sergio Perez in both outings around Baku.
Only time will tell if that performance will be enough to give Leclerc faith that Ferrari can continue to provide a competitive home for him on the grid.