Charles Leclerc has been linked with replacing Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes (Photo: Getty)
Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur says the reports linking Charles Leclerc with Mercedes are ‘bulls***’.
With Sir Lewis Hamilton’s contract up at the end of the season there has been much speculation surrounding his future and who might replace him at Mercedes if he does choose to walk away.
The name most heavily tipped to join the Silver Arrows is Leclerc, but while this started off as more of a vague possibility, rumours that the 25-year-old had been in talks with the team emerged ahead of last weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
The Monegasque driver dismissed these reports, claiming there was ‘zero truth’ in them, though Mercedes boss Toto Wolff recently admitted that Leclerc is being considered for a seat at the team – just not for immediate future.
‘The only time I talked with him is when we discussed where the gate is in Melbourne to board the plane,’ Wolff said as quoted by BBC Sport.
‘Charles is a super guy and for the long-term future someone you have to have on your radar but not for the short and medium term.
‘Nobody doubts Charles’ ability and he is a good guy. He is 100 per cent committed to Ferrari and we are 100 per cent committed to putting pen to paper with Lewis.’
Fred Vasseur joined Ferrari from Alfa Romeo this year (Photo: Getty)
Leclerc is contracted to Ferrari until 2024 and though he enjoyed his best result of the season in Baku, finishing third after starting on pole, the Scuderia are far behind the pace of the Red Bulls, and it is clear that both he and teammate Carlos Sainz Jr. are frustrated with their situation.
But in spite of this, Vasseur has reiterated that his star driver is fully committed to the team, saying, as quoted by the Mirror: ‘The rumours about Charles and Mercedes are bulls***.
‘Charles said he loves Ferrari and wants to win with Ferrari. We are at the beginning of the season, where there is much gossip we will hear every weekend, but we are not worried.’
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Leclerc, who was handed his F1 debut by Vasseur with Sauber, has won five races with Ferrari since joining them in 2019, and has serious ambitions of becoming their first world champion since Kimi Raikkonen in 2007.
Meanwhile Hamilton has repeatedly said he will sign a new deal with Mercedes even with the Silver Arrows once again struggling to match Red Bull for pace.
The 2023 F1 season continues this weekend with the Miami Grand Prix.
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Leclerc is on Mercedes’ ‘radar’