Few storylines light up the F1 rumour mill like a Ferrari star pondering life beyond Maranello. In recent days, multiple outlets have suggested Charles Leclerc and his management are sounding out alternatives for the 2027 season. Some of those reports are thinly sourced; some add helpful context about the contracts and the looming 2026–27 reset. Let’s separate what’s actually known from what’s merely being whispered.
Here’s an update on whether Charles Leclerc could exit Ferrari
What’s on record: Leclerc is contracted “beyond 2024”
Ferrari and Leclerc announced a fresh deal in January 2024 that keeps him with the Scuderia “beyond 2024.” The team and driver did not publish the term, which has fuelled speculation ever since about the real end date and potential exit points.
Various industry round-ups since have repeated that the precise length isn’t public, and that Leclerc indicated it would keep him at Ferrari for “several seasons.” That ambiguity matters, because it leaves room for options, clauses or natural review points that could line up with the second year of the new rules (2027).
What the rumour mill is saying
A cluster of reports in late September and early October suggest Leclerc’s camp has begun exploring options for 2027, amid frustration with Ferrari’s form and uncertainty about how quickly they’ll capitalise on the 2026 regulations. These pieces point to manager Nicolas Todt canvassing the market and describe 2027 as a likely inflection point. Some mention informal contact with McLaren, Aston Martin, Mercedes and even Red Bull as part of wide-angle due diligence. Treat all of this as rumour, not confirmation.
A few outlets go further, speculating Ferrari may already be gaming out contingencies should Leclerc decide to walk — which, again, reads more like hypothesis than hard reporting. The consistent thread across these pieces is the same: if 2026 doesn’t give Leclerc a clear path to wins, then 2027 becomes the first practical moment to jump.
Why 2027 makes sense as a decision year
Even putting rumours aside, there are logical reasons 2027 would be decision time:
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Competitive clarity after new regs: 2026’s engine/aero reset will deliver its first answers by mid-season. By early 2027, drivers will know whose concept truly works. If Ferrari still isn’t consistently winning by then, the sporting case for a move strengthens.
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Market heat: Nicolas Todt has been quoted describing the 2027 driver market as “very hot.” Translation: multiple top-team seats could be movable as projects reveal themselves. That volatility gives elite drivers leverage.
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Ferrari’s current ceiling: Leclerc himself has lately been blunt about expectations, saying Ferrari is unlikely to win a race this season and calling the car “unpredictable” at Singapore. Those aren’t exit threats — but they do set the tone for a pivotal 2026.
If he looked around, where are the plausible landing spots?
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Aston Martin (Honda 2026): If Fernando Alonso does step back after 2026 and the Honda–Aston Martin project (potentially with Newey influence) looks like a title package, a 2027 marquee signing would be logical. That’s the destination most rumours circle back to.
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Mercedes: Their long-term pairing is in flux as the post-Hamilton era beds in. If the 2026 car is competitive but the line-up lacks a proven title closer, Leclerc’s stock would be sky-high. (Speculative, but frequently floated in market pieces.)
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Red Bull: Always an obvious question, but any opening depends on Max Verstappen’s horizon and the team’s internal priorities. Still, some reports toss Red Bull into the exploratory mix, which is exactly the kind of diligence a top driver’s camp would do.
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McLaren: The most challenging fit. Public reporting has McLaren’s stars secured deep into the decade, making this a long shot unless the landscape shifts.
What’s noise vs. signal?
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Signal: The contract term is undisclosed; 2027 aligns neatly with a “stay or go” decision after a year of 2026 data. Todt’s “hot market” framing adds credible context to why you’d survey the field now.
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Noise: Lists of alleged meetings and “locked-in” succession plans. These make for clickable headlines, but so far lack confirmation from primary sources (Ferrari, Leclerc, or a top-tier wire). Treat them as rumours, not facts.
The sporting case for staying vs. going
Staying hinges on Ferrari converting their infrastructure, leadership and Honda-beating power unit partner (they remain with their in-house PU) into a consistent winner under 2026 rules. Leclerc is deeply embedded at Ferrari; if they start 2026 strong, continuity plus status could outweigh the risk of moving.
Leaving becomes compelling if 2026 exposes a persistent deficit. At 29 in 2027, Leclerc would be squarely in his peak, and a leap to a proven winner might be the most rational path to a title.
Bottom line
There are reports suggesting Leclerc’s management is taking the temperature of the 2027 market. None of them amount to an imminent split — and Ferrari’s and Leclerc’s official line remains that he’s committed under a multi-year deal. But given Ferrari’s form and the unknowns of 2026, it would be surprising if his camp weren’t doing their homework.
The next 12 months will likely decide everything: if Ferrari nail the 2026 reset, this story fades. If they don’t, expect the 2027 carousel to spin fast — and expect Leclerc’s name to be near the centre of it.
