Charles Leclerc has revealed he turned down offers from rival Formula 1 teams before committing his future with Ferrari. The Monegasque driver signed a multi-year deal with Ferrari and insisted it would mean more to win his first drivers' title with the Scuderia than with any other outfit.
The announcement, made ahead of his home Monaco Grand Prix this weekend, extends the 28-year-old's long-standing association with the storied team, which began a decade ago in its academy. Leclerc has yet to become champion after seven full seasons as an F1 driver, so changing teams was an option in a bid to fulfil his dream, though he did not specify which teams approached him.
Leclerc's Loyalty to Ferrari
Speaking about the rival bids, Leclerc said: "There were, yes. I'm not going to say who — they can say it if they want. For me, Ferrari was always the choice." He added that assurances about Ferrari's future competitiveness were "part of all the discussions."
Leclerc elaborated on his loyalty, stating: "But winning in red for me has got a very unique feeling, and something that I've dedicated all the years. We didn't manage to achieve that yet, at least in a full season."
Current Season and Monaco Hopes
The current F1 season has seen Mercedes dominate, with Kimi Antonelli securing the last four of their five victories. Leclerc, currently third in the drivers' standings, remains hopeful for a turnaround at the iconic Monaco circuit. "I mean, if there's one track I will bet on on us, it's probably Monaco," said Leclerc, who won F1's most famous race in 2024.
However, he acknowledged the ongoing challenge: "I still believe that Mercedes have had a significant advantage since the beginning of the year. So I think they would be very, very strong."
Leclerc's decision to stay with Ferrari underscores his commitment to the team despite the lack of a championship title so far. With the Monaco Grand Prix approaching, he aims to leverage his familiarity with the circuit to secure a strong result and potentially close the gap to Mercedes.
