Charles Leclerc says Ferrari were “transparent” with him about their efforts to sign Lewis Hamilton before he committed to extending his contract with the team.
Hamilton will join Ferrari at the beginning of next season. Leclerc, whose contract was up for renewal at the end of this year, agreed a deal to remain at the team shortly before Hamilton’s moved was announced.
However Leclerc confirmed the identity of his next team mate came as no surprise to him. “Obviously these kind of deals are not finalised overnight, it takes of course, time,” he said in response to a question from RaceFans.
“I was aware of those discussions before signing my deal. So it didn’t come out as a surprise after signing.”
Leclerc said he had no concerns about going up against the seven-times world champion in the same team from next year.
“It hasn’t changed anything in my discussions because I focussed on myself and what’s good for me,” he said. “So there was no change of any requirements or whatsoever. For me, that wasn’t part of my discussions.
“I think it was good that the team was transparent anyway, just for me to not learn it after that, but it didn’t change anything for me.”
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The pair have had a friendly relationship to date, Hamilton praising Leclerc’s driving on several occasions. The pair swapped messages after Hamilton’s shock move became public.
“I’ve had discussions with Lewis, especially when everything was announced and official, we texted each other, of course,” said Leclerc. “Lewis is a great champion with a lot of experience and so much success.
“It is always interesting to have a new team mate as you learn different ways of working, of driving, and even more so when my new team mate is a seven-time world champion.”
However Leclerc stressed he wants to maintain the constructive relationship he has enjoyed with Carlos Sainz Jnr which will come to an end this year after four seasons together.
“I don’t want to comment that much, mostly out of respect for Carlos,” he said. “We’ve had great years together and we have one more year together to do and we will do absolutely everything to finish on the highest note possible.
“Obviously Lewis is an incredible driver, the most successful in history and with a lot of experience as well, which he will bring to to the team and obviously myself, which is a good thing. But again, with Carlos it’s been great and we’ve got…
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