Two-time Formula 1 world champion Mika Hakkinen believes Charles Leclerc should extend his relationship with Ferrari beyond the end of 2028. The former McLaren driver argues that Leclerc has the talent to win the Drivers’ Championship and that remaining with Ferrari could still provide the right long-term route.
The discussion arrives while Ferrari continues to chase a title breakthrough in the current regulations. Leclerc’s future is not an immediate contract emergency, but decisions made before 2028 will shape the prime years of his career and Ferrari’s attempt to build a championship team around a proven race winner.
HAKKINEN BACKS LECLERC TO STAY WITH FERRARI
Hakkinen’s position is based on continuity rather than short-term emotion. Leclerc understands Ferrari’s engineering culture, internal pressure, and expectations. He has also developed into the team’s central reference across several generations of car.
Changing teams can create an opportunity, but it also requires a driver to learn new systems, working methods, and relationships. Hakkinen believes Leclerc already has the speed and maturity required for a title challenge, so the priority should be helping Ferrari deliver a car capable of sustaining one.
LECLERC HAS ALREADY BUILT A DEEP FERRARI CAREER
Leclerc joined the Ferrari Driver Academy as a young prospect and reached Formula 1 with Sauber before moving to the senior Ferrari team in 2019. Since then, he has experienced pole positions, race victories, strategic disappointments, technical setbacks, and the intense attention attached to driving for the sport’s most famous team.
That history gives him influence inside the organization. Engineers know how he describes the car, which balance characteristics give him confidence, and how his feedback changes during a race weekend. Those relationships are difficult to reproduce immediately elsewhere.
- Leclerc has raced for Ferrari since 2019
- He has worked through several technical regulation cycles
- His current deal runs through the end of 2028
- A future extension would cover important peak-career seasons
WHY A LONG CONTRACT CAN HELP BOTH SIDES
For Ferrari, a long-term agreement would preserve a driver who has repeatedly demonstrated qualifying speed and the ability to convert difficult weekends into points. It would also provide technical stability as the team develops future cars and reviews its performance under the 2026 regulations.
For Leclerc, the benefit is a clear leadership position and a development program built around familiar communication. Contract security does not guarantee a competitive car, but it can reduce uncertainty and allow a driver to focus on improving the project rather than monitoring every potential vacancy.
THE CONDITIONS THAT STILL MATTER
Loyalty alone cannot decide the next contract. Leclerc must see evidence that Ferrari can solve recurring weaknesses, execute races consistently, and react quickly during a development battle. A driver in his prime needs a realistic championship path, not only a famous badge and a long agreement.
- Reliable technical progress across a full season
- Cleaner strategic execution under pressure
- Strong communication between driver and engineering groups
- A clear plan for competing against the fastest teams
FERRARI MUST TURN POTENTIAL INTO CONSISTENCY
Ferrari has often shown enough performance to win individual races or take pole position without maintaining the same level across an entire campaign. Championships are usually lost through repeated small weaknesses: tyre management at one circuit, balance problems at another, slow development, or operational errors on difficult weekends.
Leclerc’s decision beyond 2028 will depend on whether those isolated issues become less frequent. If Ferrari can provide a predictable platform and execute cleanly, his speed gives the team a genuine foundation. If progress stalls, rival teams will naturally examine the possibility of recruiting him.
THE DRIVER MARKET COULD CHANGE BEFORE 2028
Formula 1 contracts rarely exist in isolation. Team performance, engine competitiveness, retirements, and unexpected driver moves can create openings that do not appear likely several years earlier. Leclerc therefore has little reason to rush a decision while his current agreement still provides security.
Ferrari also benefits from acting before uncertainty becomes a distraction. A well-timed extension could remove speculation and demonstrate confidence in the partnership. Negotiating too early, however, would require both sides to make assumptions about a technical future that is still developing.
WHY HAKKINEN’S VIEW CARRIES WEIGHT
Hakkinen understands the value of building a championship partnership over several seasons. His own success came after a long development period with McLaren, not through constant team changes. That experience explains why he emphasizes patience when the driver has the ability and the organization has the resources to improve.
The comparison is not exact, because modern Formula 1 operates with different contracts, budgets, and development restrictions. The underlying lesson remains relevant: continuity can become a competitive advantage when both sides continue moving toward the same target.
LECLERC’S FUTURE DEPENDS ON FERRARI’S NEXT STEPS
Hakkinen’s recommendation is clear: Leclerc should remain with Ferrari and continue pursuing the championship in red. The logic is strong because the driver already occupies a central role and has years of shared knowledge with the team.
The final answer will be determined on the track. If Ferrari turns its resources and promising weekends into a consistent title challenge, extending beyond 2028 becomes a natural choice. Leclerc has the speed; Ferrari must prove that the partnership can deliver the car and execution required to use it.
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