Helmut Marko gets out of line on Charles Leclerc’s future

F1, Marko does not rule out Charles Leclerc’s early farewell

One of the main topics circulating in recent weeks is the possible move of Charles Leclerc to Mercedes in case of Lewis Hamilton’s farewell. Red Bull consultant Helmut Marko has spoken on this driver market rumor, and he has not ruled out the possibility of the 1997-class driver’s departure from the Prancing Horse.

“It makes no sense for Ferrari to want to do without Carlos Sainz, who has been doing a good job since he arrived. For Charles, however, it is normal for the driver to win a minimum of points before going to the summer break. If that goal is not achieved, the parties are free to terminate the contract. He could take advantage of this clause like Vettel did in 2015 when he left Red Bull early to go to Ferrari,” Helmut Marko told “Sport Bild.”

The Monegasque driver’s contract with the Maranello-based team will expire in 2024 and contacts have reportedly already been initiated to reach an agreement on the renewal. In the meantime, the former Sauber is expected to redeem the extremely bad start of the season as early as the Baku GP.