Two-time world champion Mika Häkkinen has urged Charles Leclerc to remain loyal to Ferrari. Amid rumors that the Monegasque is considering his options with rival teams, the Finn believes that patience will pay off in the future. Häkkinen recalls how it took a long time for his efforts to be rewarded during his time at McLaren.
After nearly seven years in red, Leclerc has eight victories to his name, but a real shot at the world championship has not yet materialized. The new 2022 regulations were promising, but despite a strong start to the season, Max Verstappen took the title that same year. In the current season, Leclerc is still waiting for his first win; so far, he has not finished higher than second place.
The lack of performance has reportedly led to tensions within Ferrari, according to various media outlets. The Italian press has suggested that the engineers are irritated by Leclerc’s comments, who has repeatedly criticized his SF-25 and its lack of competitiveness this year. This has fueled rumors that Leclerc might want to join another team. The 28-year-old Monegasque has already been linked to various competitors.
Patience Pays Off
According to Mika Häkkinen, Leclerc should remain loyal to Ferrari – his patience will pay off in the future. “He (Leclerc) is no longer a child,” Häkkinen said in an interview with betting platform FanCode. “He has been racing for many seasons with Ferrari, but now he needs a winning car.” The Finn believes that the new regulations of 2026 may trigger many transfers. “Many drivers will wait to see how competitive the different teams are before they dare to make a move. I expect a very busy transfer market.”
However, Häkkinen encourages Leclerc to honor his collaboration with Ferrari. “His management is thinking carefully about what is happening and what will happen in the future,” he continued. “From my own experience, I can say that I never lost faith. I was very loyal to McLaren and the management convinced me: ‘Mika, just wait,’ they said. ‘Once we have all aspects within the team in order, you will win. Let’s just work hard. It doesn’t matter if it takes one, two, or three years. Let’s just go for it.'” After five years without titles, Häkkinen proved that perseverance indeed wins; in 1998 and 1999, he became champion twice. “It will also work with Leclerc and Ferrari,” the Finn assured emphatically.
