Charles Leclerc had ‘behind the scenes’ talks with rival F1 team before signing new Ferrari contract

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Charles Leclerc is now signed up to continue driving for the famous Scuderia Ferrari well into his 30s, but the extension came after he held behind-the-scenes ‘talks’ with one of the Italian racing outfit’s biggest rivals.

The eight-time Grand Prix winner is understood to have signed a multi-year extension to his existing Ferrari deal, with it later being revealed that Leclerc would have been out of contract at the end of the current term.

His new deal came as quite a surprise, given that there hadn’t been much talk inside the F1 paddock over the Monegasque driver expressing any sort of frustration with his pre-existing contract.

However, there had been a multitude of reports that linked him with a potential exit from Ferrari in the future, given Maranello’s inability to give him a car worthy of competing for the title since he joined the team in 2019.

F1 pundit Ralf Schumacher shared that Leclerc was in talks with Aston Martin over a potential move, with renowned journalist Ralf Bach now shedding more light on what could have been for the 28-year-old.

• READ MORE: Aston Martin have already made ‘contact’ with another F1 driver after failed Charles Leclerc talks

Charles Leclerc held ‘behind the scenes’ talks with Red Bull before signing new Ferrari deal

In a Monaco Grand Prix preview episode of the F1 Insider podcast, Bach was asked for his thoughts on whether Leclerc had made the right decision in pledging his future to the Scuderia.

F1 fans were quick to react to the news, with the overwhelming sentiment being that Leclerc will end up seeing out his days in the sport as a Ferrari driver.

If Charles Leclerc wasn’t a Ferrari driver, which F1 team would you like to see him at?

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“I think he’s made the right choice,” Bach began, before revealing that he had held talks with Red Bull chief Laurent Mekies: “One had heard that Red Bull were really pushing hard, especially Laurent Mekies – the two of them are French mates, you could say.

“Laurent Mekies had expressed an interest in Leclerc, and there were talks behind the scenes. But in the end, I think Charles Leclerc did the right thing. He believes that Ferrari is the future. Certainly, compared to Red Bull, if you just look at this year’s performance.

“He believes he feels very much at home there. He feels at home in red; he feels like a Ferrari driver. And I think he made the right decision. And Ferrari is also backing him because he’s one of the best drivers out there.

• READ MORE: Italian ‘sources’ claim Charles Leclerc’s new Ferrari contract is ‘much shorter’ than believed

“If he becomes even more consistent – that’s something he’s lacking a bit, as we saw in Canada – then he’s absolutely a title contender. So I think he’s done everything right.”

Leclerc’s first port of call following his new deal is the Monaco Grand Prix, his home race on the F1 calendar. Following his heroics in 2024, a first win of the season on the streets of Monte Carlo would certainly be a show-stopping way to enter his new era with the team.