Charles Leclerc manager predicts ‘very hot’ F1 2027 driver market | F1 | Sport
Charles Leclerc’s manager believes there will be “a lot of drivers” considering moves next year after seeing how the chips fall in the new era of Formula 1. But he was tight-lipped when asked whether or not his Monegasque client will be one of them.
The 2026 season will see new engine and aerodynamic regulations come into force in what has been described as the biggest rules shake-up in the 75-year history of the World Championship. Every team hopes they will be the ones to build the quickest cars and strongest power units and every driver is also keeping their fingers crossed that a title-winning machine falls into their laps next year.
Leclerc is desperate to finally get the chance to realise his potential as one of the drivers on the grid widely-regarded as having what it takes to become World champion. And his manager Nicolas Todt, son of former Ferrari team principal and FIA president Jean Todt, has said he expects a “very hot” driver market next year as some racers are inevitably disappointed.
He told The Straits Times: “A lot of drivers are waiting to see how well each team will have worked, and how good their car will be to say, ‘I want to stay in my team’ or, ‘I want to go to another team because they are doing a better job’.” That said, he declined to comment on some paddock rumours suggesting Leclerc has received expressions of interest from some of Ferrari‘s rivals.
But, following what looks set to be a winless 2025 for both Leclerc and his Ferrari team, Todt did make it clear that his client expects to be victorious once again next term. He added: “Charles is one of the best talent of his generation, with Max [Verstappen] and a few of the drivers.
“He’s not a baby any more because he has done a lot of seasons with Ferrari and, of course, I think that we still need to have a winning car. Today, we have a good car, but not enough to win the title… We hope it will happen and we hope next year Ferrari will have a very good car with the new regulations.”
Todt’s comments come after an interview Leclerc gave to The Athletic, in which he admitted his “disappointment” at Ferrari‘s form this year but committed to doing “absolutely everything” he can to deliver success for the Italian team. He said: “McLaren has been kind of dominating since the beginning of the season. On that side, it’s a little bit disappointing. But on my side, I’m happy. I’m very happy with the way I perform – I just wish we were fighting for victories.
“My duty and my goal are the same: It’s to bring Ferrari back to the top. I’ll do absolutely everything in order to achieve that. What I want really is to have zero regrets, looking back, that I’ve done absolutely everything in order to achieve that. Whether I’ll achieve it or not, I don’t know. I cannot control everything. But I know that at least whatever I have in my control, I’ll try to be at my maximum.”
