The silly season hasn’t been too silly this year. That’s primarily because most drivers have contracts until at least 2024. But that didn’t mean there weren’t any contract negotiations. There were, and Charles Leclerc was one of the drivers rumored to have been offered a mammoth deal. How much was it for? $204 million over five years! Yes, the Monegasque has hinted for months that he’s considering driving for Ferrari until the end of 2029. While that’s great news for Ferrari and Leclerc fans, it hasn’t been confirmed yet. Or has it?

During the summer break, there were speculations that Leclerc already signed the deal. But they were just speculations, and nothing concrete has come of it. Considering that and how difficult the past few seasons have been for Ferrari, could Leclerc be looking elsewhere? Here’s what the Monegasque had to say.

Will Charles Leclerc be part of Ferrari’s resurrection?

Since Leclerc was a kid watching F1 growing up, he’s always wanted to race for Ferrari. When he fulfilled that dream in 2019, he set his sights on winning a championship for the Scuderia. Five years into his tenure, he hasn’t gotten close (apart from in the first half of 2022). Needless to say, Leclerc’s time at Ferrari hasn’t gone as planned, and it’s been difficult, to say the least. While describing the current situation at Ferrari, he said, “It’s a situation that is a little complicated. The results are not necessarily where we would like them to be on Ferrari’s side.”

The good thing is that the past few races have seen a definite upward trajectory in form. Especially considering Ferrari became the team to end Red Bull’s seemingly unbreakable winning streak. The Monegasque obviously sees potential at Maranello, something he discussed in an interview. He was asked about Ferrari’s development for 2026 when the new regulations come into effect. As quoted by motorsport.nextgen-auto.com, he said, “As a driver, it is very difficult to know exactly where each team stands. I focus on myself and Ferrari. I haven’t had a chance to drive the [2026] car in the simulator yet, and as soon as I do, I’ll be able to say a little more.” [Translated by Google]

“At the moment, it is very difficult to have a clear picture of the development or anything,” he concluded. F1 is a very secretive sport. Unless a team is confident a driver will stay with it for the foreseeable future, it will start limiting their testing for upcoming years (especially with regulation changes). From what Leclerc said, there are obviously plans for him to drive the 2026 car on the simulator. That can only point to one thing: Leclerc will stay at Maranello at least until 2026.

Read More: “There’s No Hurry”: Despite Dreams of $215 Million Deal, Charles Leclerc Exposes Ferrari’s Dirty Tactics with Brutal Snub

It’s evident Leclerc wants a race-winning car. Who wouldn’t? But the first step to achieving that is to build on what Ferrari already has, something Leclerc finds “difficult” to get a grip on.

Leclerc is still figuring out 2023 but is hopeful for 2024

When F1 returned after the summer break, and Leclerc had supposedly signed a 2+3 year deal, the dunes of Zandvoort greeted them at the Dutch GP. Ferrari’s first half was nothing to write home about. But with the new upgrades in Zandvoort, the Scuderia looked to build some momentum. While that worked for Carlos Sainz, Leclerc couldn’t have had a worse weekend—one that ended with a DNF. It was evident he was struggling with the car. What’s worse is that he still finds it that difficult to drive.

After the Dutch GP, he was asked about Ferrari’s 2024 development. He said, “First, I’ve got a season to finish in 2023. But we can only go in another direction because at the moment the car is really difficult to drive. It’s just very, very difficult to be on the limit. As soon as you get close to the limit, you just really don’t know what will happen.” Even though 2023 might not have turned out how he expected, he knows what Ferrari needs to do for 2024 and beyond. He said, “For the future, it’s a matter of delivering a good product which will cope with the targets we have. We are not in ‘nowhere land.’ We know what to do. It’s a matter of finding the right architecture of the car to achieve the target.”

It seems like Charles Leclerc is in it for the long haul with Ferrari. If Ferrari doesn’t deliver, do you think he’ll take that exit clause after 2025 and look elsewhere?

WATCH THIS STORY | How Long Will Charles Leclerc Wait for Ferrari – Will He Leave for Some Other team Post-2024?