Charles Leclerc is today considered one of the best drivers on the current F1 grid, to the point that every team would dream of attracting him, but he is not ready to give up the substance for the shadow…
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At 28 years old, the Monegasque is having a good start to the 2026 season: he currently holds third place in the championship after the Japan Grand Prix.
Still committed to Ferrari — which he joined in 2019 — his goal remains unchanged: to become world champion.
A legitimate frustration
However, since his arrival, the contrast is striking. During the same time, Max Verstappen has won four titles, Lando Norris has secured one, and while his current teammate Lewis Hamilton has won twice under the colors of Mercedes, Leclerc has only recorded eight victories in nine seasons. A record clearly below expectations for a driver of this caliber.
Having arrived at Ferrari to win races and titles, Leclerc has not yet achieved this goal. In this context, it is not surprising that he might consider other options in the paddock.
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According to some reports, Lawrence Stroll reportedly tried to attract him to Aston Martin. But the Ferrari driver reportedly quickly distanced himself, suspecting an unclear situation. It must be said that the team, now led by Adrian Newey, is experiencing a very difficult start to the season, without a single point scored after three races.
Opening at Red Bull?
For its part, Red Bull Racing would see Leclerc as the only credible replacement if Verstappen were to leave the team. Team principal Laurent Mekies could thus take advantage of the uncertainties surrounding Leclerc’s position at Ferrari, especially if the latter wishes to become the centerpiece of the Scuderia’s project in its quest for driver and constructor titles.
Mekies knows Leclerc well from having worked with him at the Scuderia when he was sporting director at Maranello, and their contacts have remained friendly (photo above). From there to abandoning his dream in red for a hypothetical adventure at Milton Keynes—where they are drowning in trophies while now facing a major new challenge, namely designing chassis and engine under the same roof—which does not (yet?) constitute a guarantee of success at this stage.
In summary, even if Leclerc remains committed and ambitious with Ferrari, his situation could quickly become one of the major files in the Formula 1 transfer market, especially in the event of movement around Verstappen.
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