Mika Hakkinen Backs Leclerc's Decision to Stick with Ferrari
Mika Hakkinen supports Charles Leclerc's decision to extend his contract with Ferrari, emphasizing the importance of stability for achieving success. Despite skepticism, Leclerc's loyalty and belief in the Ferrari project remain strong.
Charles Leclerc's choice to renew his contract with Ferrari has raised a few eyebrows in the Formula 1 paddock, but Mika Hakkinen, the two-time world champion, has come out in support of the decision. His reasoning? Simplicity and stability.
Just ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix, Leclerc committed to a new deal with Ferrari, extending his stay beyond 2028, despite having over a year left on his current contract. Since joining Ferrari in 2019, Leclerc's record includes 27 pole positions but only eight wins, with his best performance in 2022 when he finished second, a distant 146 points behind Max Verstappen.
Hakkinen, who made the majority of his Formula 1 starts with McLaren, believes Leclerc is right to remain at Ferrari. "Charles is a great personality and a great driver," said Hakkinen. "If you want to win championships, you need to keep your life simple."
The Finnish champion suggests that frequent team changes can hinder a driver's success. "When drivers swap teams too often, they never find stability," Hakkinen noted. "People within the teams never really get to know you, or understand what you need to perform at your best."
Leclerc himself expressed his affection for Ferrari and faith in their project, confirming that he had turned down offers from other teams. He appreciates Ferrari as one of the first to recognize his talent and help him reach his current status.
However, Hakkinen, recalling his own career, downplayed the role of loyalty in Leclerc's decision. "Formula 1 is a tough business," Hakkinen remarked. "Your management must make the right decisions, and you have to trust them."
Asked if Leclerc could achieve his dream of a World Championship with Ferrari, which would be the team's first since Kimi Raikkonen in 2007, Hakkinen smiled. "I wish him the best," he said. "Charles is a great guy, and it would be wonderful for him, for Monaco, and for Ferrari if he became a World Champion."
Leclerc's decision to stay with Ferrari, despite the challenges, reflects his commitment to the team and belief that success will eventually follow. Whether this gamble pays off remains to be seen, but for now, both Leclerc and Hakkinen seem to agree that sometimes, the simplest path is the best one.