Charles Leclerc doesn’t ‘understand’ what he’s heard about Ferrari beyond Christian Horner links

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Charles Leclerc arrived at COTA for the 2025 United States Grand Prix also celebrating his 28th birthday this Thursday, but Ferrari’s “difficult time” overshadowed the party.

The Monegasque had to discuss the storm of speculation that has loomed over the Scuderia in recent weeks on his birthday in the paddock in Austin, Texas. Ferrari have been battling an onslaught of rumours since the Singapore Grand Prix that Leclerc wants them to now forget.

It is also not only the reports linking Christian Horner with a move to Ferrari to replace Fred Vasseur that caught Leclerc’s attention. While it is now said that Ferrari are not interested in hiring Horner to replace Vasseur, the Frenchman’s future was widely thought to be in doubt.

Leclerc hopes Ferrari can now have a strong weekend at the United States GP that lets them kick the recent gossip into the weeds. But he admits that securing a victory at COTA in either the F1 Sprint on Saturday or Sunday’s United States GP may not be realistic for the Scuderia.

Charles Leclerc admits speculation about Christian Horner joining Ferrari has been ‘difficult’

Several reports had emerged that suggested Ferrari chairman John Elkann wanted Horner to replace Vasseur after he lost faith in the Frenchman. The Scuderia have faced endless woe in the 2025 F1 season, with Ferrari the sole top-four team without a Grand Prix win this season.

READ MORE: Who is Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur? Everything you need to know

But the reports that loomed over Maranello even claimed that Leclerc’s camp has spoken to Aston Martin about a potential future move. Reports have also suggested that Leclerc could be open to a seat swap with McLaren’s Oscar Piastri for 2027 if Mercedes are not an option.

But speaking on Thursday at COTA, Leclerc stated that he does not understand where any of the recent speculation about more than just Ferrari’s reported interest in Horner came from. Leclerc does, however, admit that the recent speculation has made life “difficult” for Ferrari.

“What gift would I like here? Obviously, a win. Actually, two,” Leclerc said on Sky Italia. “But realistically, I just hope for a good weekend where we put everything together.

“It’s quite a difficult time in the sense that there are so many things around the team that I don’t understand where they’re coming from. But it’s not just the rumours about Horner.

“That’s also why I hope for a good weekend for the team, and to forget all these things. I hope this is the weekend to turn the page.”

Ferrari’s plight fuelled the speculation around Fred Vasseur and Charles Leclerc’s futures

It has been suggested that Ferrari are taking Horner’s availability very seriously, with the 51-year-old now free to take charge of another F1 team from April 2026 after finalising his exit from Red Bull in September. But the Scuderia now appear set to support Vasseur’s position.

READ MORE: Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc’s life outside F1 from net worth to girlfriend

Vasseur signed a new Ferrari contract through 2027 in July, which was meant to silence the speculation around his future at the time. The Scuderia also re-signed the 57-year-old after Red Bull had fired Horner, but he remained in talks about ending his contract through 2030.

Yet speculation exploded after the Singapore GP that Leclerc could explore leaving Ferrari at the end of next year and that Horner was of interest to Elkann due to the Scuderia’s endless plight. Ferrari are third in the F1 constructors’ standings with six rounds of the season to go.

McLaren have already won the constructors’ title and sit 352 points better off than Ferrari, who also trail Mercedes by 27 points. Red Bull would likely sit above Ferrari, too, if they had two drivers scoring regular points, with Max Verstappen offering 273 of their 290 this term.