Charles Leclerc just gave a big hint for when he’ll decide his Ferrari future amid Red Bull links

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Charles Leclerc is the spirit of a Ferrari driver, yet his future has started to come into question after the Scuderia’s winless 2025 season and interest from other F1 teams.

The 28-year-old has raced for Ferrari since he replaced Kimi Raikkonen in the 2019 season. Leclerc has even been a part of the Scuderia’s family since he joined their driver academy in 2016, before debuting in F1 for Sauber in 2018. Yet his days in Maranello may be numbered.

Leclerc’s contract with Ferrari is set to run through the 2029 F1 season, but he can break out of his deal a lot sooner. It is said that Leclerc can leave Ferrari for free in 2026, and the plight that the pride of Italy endured during the 2025 season has fuelled claims that he may leave.

Lewis Hamilton secured Ferrari’s only success in 2025 when he won the F1 Sprint in China in March. But he did not score a single Grand Prix podium, of which Leclerc took seven. Leclerc and Hamilton also only sealed P5 and P6 in the F1 drivers’ standings, on 242 and 156 points.

Charles Leclerc expects to know which teams will dominate F1 for ‘years’ within seven races under the 2026 regulations

Reports have suggested that Leclerc is considering a seat swap with McLaren’s Oscar Piastri for 2027, as Mercedes would prioritise a move for Red Bull star Max Verstappen were he to become available. Leclerc’s manager has spoken with Red Bull about a potential move, too.

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about the 2026 F1 engine and aero regulations

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So, if Ferrari do not deliver a competitive car under the 2026 F1 regulations, for which they stopped developing their 2025 car this April to focus on, then Leclerc may tell his manager Nicolas Todt to explore alternatives. And Leclerc might not wait too long to give Todt a call.

“I really hope that we will start this new era on the right foot, because, yeah, it’s important for the four years after,” Leclerc told The Race.

He added: “I think it would be [a long struggle for the uncompetitive teams in 2026]. Maybe not in the first three [to] four races, but by race six [or] seven, I think we’ll have a good idea of who are the teams that will be dominating for the four years after.”

Charles Leclerc could leave Ferrari if the fears about their 2026 rules engine prove true

Leclerc’s proposal that the teams who start the 2026 F1 regulations era on the front foot will dominate throughout the cycle could alarm Ferrari with rival outfits monitoring his situation. It is even said that Aston Martin signing Leclerc for 2027 is more realistic with Adrian Newey.

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

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Having just endured his fourth winless season in his seven years with Ferrari, Leclerc will not want to leave himself at risk of further misery by pinning his dreams on the Scuderia turning things around if they fail to instantly understand the 2026 F1 aerodynamic and engine rules.

Mercedes are widely expected to have the best 2026 F1 rules engine, which could put them at the front of the field owing to the complexities of the 50/50 electrical/combustion power split and the removal of the MGU-H. Aston Martin will also be Honda’s factory engine team.

Red Bull will become a power unit provider in 2026, as well, after establishing their own F1 engine factory following Honda’s initial decision to pull out of F1. So, Leclerc could have his choice of superior suitors for 2027, with concerns rife about Ferrari’s 2026 engine currently.