Charles Leclerc’s 2026 F1 exit clause has just ‘emerged’ and it is no wonder Ferrari are ‘scared’

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John Elkann stunned the F1 world by telling Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc to “focus on driving”, yet Ferrari have just developed a much more alarming concern.

The pride of Italy are enduring a year they will hope to quickly forget once the season draws to a close in Abu Dhabi in December. Ferrari are the only one of F1’s top four teams without a Grand Prix win this term, and they have also fallen to fourth in the constructors’ standings.

Ferrari arrived in Brazil sat second in the 2025 F1 constructors’ championship on 356 points, to lead Mercedes on 355 and Red Bull on 346. Yet the Scuderia left the Sao Paulo Grand Prix on 362 points, as they fell behind their rivals who now have 398 and 366 points respectively.

Hamilton admitted he is living a “nightmare” at Ferrari, as well, after he retired from the Sao Paulo GP due to damage from crashing into Alpine ace Franco Colapinto. Leclerc also retired after being hit when Oscar Piastri of McLaren and Mercedes’ Andrea Kimi Antonelli collided.

Charles Leclerc can leave Ferrari ‘without penalties’ after the 2026 F1 season

The Scuderia’s woes so far this year saw chairman Elkann tell Hamilton and Leclerc to “focus on driving” and “talk less”, when he was speaking at an event for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan this Monday. But their woe during the 2025 F1 season is not Ferrari’s only concern.

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

Italian publication Fanpage reports that a release clause in Hamilton and Leclerc’s contracts has ‘emerged’, and it ‘certainly scares’ Ferrari. Both drivers will be free to leave the pride of Italy ‘without penalties’ at the end of 2026 if the team do not design a title-contending car.

Ferrari will not confirm that either release clause exists, but the Scuderia fear that Hamilton and Leclerc may walk away if they do not deliver with the 2026 F1 regulations. Leclerc could also leave Ferrari even if he were to win the drivers’ title, such is the wording of his contract.

The risk of Hamilton and Leclerc both leaving Ferrari at the same time threatens to force the team to reset in 2027, at a time when their rivals will strive to build on what they learnt with the new 2026 rules. So, Ferrari want to avoid Hamilton and Leclerc both leaving ‘at all costs’.

Charles Leclerc has drawn interest from Aston Martin and his camp has contacted Red Bull

It is no wonder that Ferrari are scared of the threat of especially Leclerc leaving the team at the end of the 2026 season for free, even if he were to win next year’s title. The 28-year-old has been Ferrari’s chosen one since he entered their academy in 2016 and F1 team in 2019.

Ferrari signed Leclerc to a £20m a year contract in January 2024, shortly before announcing in February last year that Hamilton would join from the 2025 season. Leclerc’s deal is set to keep him at Ferrari through 2029, but the existence of exit clauses can see him leave earlier.

Rival F1 teams are already keeping close tabs on developments regarding the Monegasque’s situation in Maranello, as well. F1 Oversteer understands that Aston Martin are interested in signing Leclerc for 2027, and the team could even replace Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll.

Additionally, it has been reported that Leclerc’s manager has approached Red Bull to discuss a potential move for 2027, given the possibility that Max Verstappen may leave them. It has also been suggested that Leclerc is considering a seat swap with McLaren’s Piastri for 2027.