Leclerc assessing competitors amid uncertainties at Ferrari.
The Scuderia might be viewed as "a destination" for Piastri
30 September 2025 - 13:21
Recent speculation indicates that Charles Leclerc’s management has started to examine options outside of Ferrari, as uncertainty grows for 2026 and beyond. RMC Motori reports that Leclerc’s long relationship with the Scuderia is under pressure after seven seasons without a victory in red. With new regulations approaching, his manager Nicolas Todt has allegedly had discussions with key representatives from McLaren, Aston Martin, and Mercedes. At Monza, Todt was spotted conversing with McLaren chief Andrea Stella and legal advisor Alessandro Alunni Bravi, and additional meetings have occurred with Lawrence Stroll at Aston Martin and Toto Wolff in Capri, where Wolff also had summer talks with Max Verstappen. RMC indicates that one potential scenario could involve a future driver exchange, where championship leader Oscar Piastri might eventually move to Ferrari in return for Leclerc. Mark Webber, Piastri's manager, acknowledged that Ferrari remains "a destination," but emphasized that the Australian must first finish his development at McLaren. "For now, he needs to stay at McLaren," said the former Red Bull driver. "He must complete his development, and although Ferrari is still a destination, he needs to achieve the ultimate result. In the meantime, it would be beneficial for him to improve his Italian," Webber joked. Meanwhile, Leclerc’s contract extends until 2029, but insiders suggest that 2027 might be a logical exit point depending on Ferrari’s direction, especially considering the uncertainty surrounding Lewis Hamilton's future beyond 2026. When asked about the Mercedes rumors, Max Verstappen’s manager Raymond Vermeulen recently told De Telegraaf: "It’s not that exciting, you know. Everyone's reaching out to everyone. Or do you think Toto isn’t contacting Charles Leclerc? That's just another puzzle everyone is trying to piece together for themselves."
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