Hakkinen: If you want to win, don't complicate your life.

      In Monaco, Charles Leclerc started his 156th Formula 1 race behind the wheel of a Ferrari, although, unfortunately, he did not make it to the finish. Before the start of his home race, it was announced that his contract with Ferrari had been extended for the coming years, although the one signed in 2024 would only expire in two to three years – there is no official information about the duration of its validity.

      In general, it can be said that in this regard, the driver from Monaco is a "one-team" man, and his entire career is somehow connected with the team from Maranello, which began at Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 Team in 2018, also thanks to the patronage and support of Ferrari.

      One can see some resemblance to the sporting biography of Mika Hakkinen, a two-time world champion, who only raced for Lotus at the beginning of his career, while the other eight full seasons he spent with McLaren, where he moved in 1993, initially as a reserve driver.

      Hakkinen fully understands Leclerc's decision to tie his fate to Scuderia for so long, which the Finn shared in an interview with the official championship website:

      "In my opinion, Charles is a great character and an excellent driver. He races for a good team, and I am sure he will achieve success in the future. But if you want to win races, if you want to become a world champion, you shouldn't complicate your life too much.

      It often happens that a driver races for a certain team for two or three years without success, yet he still considers himself the best – which means the problem is not with him, but with the team. And when drivers change teams too often, they simply do not have time to gain stability. People do not have time to figure themselves out, what is required of them, and what car a talented driver needs to really show high results, demonstrating everything they are capable of."

      At the 1995 Australian Grand Prix, Hakkinen was involved in a very serious accident that could have cost him his life; however, the legendary doctor Sid Watkins provided him with first aid on the track in time, and then the Finnish driver received full support from McLaren – and a few months later, he was able to recover and start the next season.

      "Formula 1 is a very harsh world," Hakkinen continued. "It's a business, and in a certain sense, you have to be selfish. For example, after my accident, I didn't feel obligated to stay with McLaren, but it was completely clear to me that I should be with this team.

      But in Formula 1, it's important to calculate everything correctly. Your management must make the right decisions, and you must trust these people."

      When Mika was asked to share his opinion on whether Leclerc could become world champion with Ferrari, he smiled and replied: "I am not only an ambassador for Formula 1 but also an ambassador for the McLaren brand, so... In general, I wish him all the success! I wish him to become world champion – of course, it would be a reward for his many years of hard work!"

      Driving Ferrari cars, Charles Leclerc has achieved 8 victories, started from pole position 27 times, and has stood on the podium a total of 52 times. In 2022, he became the vice-world champion, although he finished that season 146 points behind Max Verstappen.

      Now the driver from Monaco is 28 years old, and after six races of this season, which is not going well for him, he is in 4th place in the individual standings.