MONACO (AP) 鈥� Charles Leclerc said he turned down offers from other Formula 1 teams before signing a new with Ferrari, insisting it would mean more to win his first drivers’ title with the Scuderia than anyone else.
The fresh deal 鈥� announced ahead of his home Monaco Grand Prix taking place this weekend 鈥� extended the 28-year-old Leclerc’s association with the storied team that began a decade ago, initially in its academy.
Leclerc has yet to become champion after seven full seasons as an F1 driver so changing teams was an option in a bid to fulfill his dream, he told a news conference on Thursday 鈥� without saying who came in for him.
鈥淭here were, yes,鈥� he said of rival bids that were on the table. 鈥淚鈥檓 not going to say who 鈥� they can say it if they want. For me, Ferrari was always the choice.鈥�
Asked if he was given assurances by Ferrari about its future competitiveness, Leclerc said it was 鈥減art of all the discussions.鈥�
鈥淏ut winning in red for me has got a very unique feeling,鈥� Leclerc added, “and something that I鈥檝e dedicated all the years.
鈥淲e didn鈥檛 manage to achieve that yet, at least in a full season.鈥�
Mercedes has dominated the start of the F1 season, winning the first five races 鈥� the last four victories going to Kimi Antonelli.
But Leclerc, who is third in the drivers’ standings, believes that could change around the iconic twisty circuit in Monaco.
鈥淚 mean, if there鈥檚 one track I will bet on on us, it鈥檚 probably Monaco,鈥� said Leclerc, who won F1’s most famous race in 2024.
鈥淗owever, I still believe that Mercedes have had a significant advantage since the beginning of the year. So I think they would be very, very strong.鈥�
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