one more time

The Monte Carlo paddock is still desert. At nine in the morning Charles Leclerc has already started his long day of appointments. A very busy program awaits him, but there's also space to receive the congratulations for the contract renewal that will bind him to Ferrari for at least another two seasons. Then he sits down to talk with Motorsport.com. These are his first words after the official announcement shared yesterday by the Scuderia.

You have reached your third renewal with Ferrari. Has this been the one you thought about the longest or was the choice as natural as in the previous occasions?

"I believe that every renewal is always evaluated with the proper attention, and in this case it hasn't been any different. The main aspect is to believe in the project. With regards to the love I feel for this team, it's not something that I need to question anymore; so, from that point of view I didn't have to think about it a lot. Then there's Fred (Vasseur): we have a unique relationship and I have great trust in the fact that he's the right person to bring Ferrari back to the top. There are also the signals that we've seen this year. True, we are behind Mercedes, but I see a lot of innovation. In Maranello there's a group that is pushing hard, trying to think in a different way than in the past, even outside of the usual framework. We have seen innovative solutions on the car and this has given me even more trust, persuading me that this is the team where I want to stay. So, beyond the love for Ferrari, which is obvious, there's also been a reasoning. As it's always been for every renewal."

Throughout the years, did you ever feel the need to evaluate any alternatives to Ferrari? I suppose that Nicholas Todt must have received calls of interest from other top teams: how easy was it to stay focused on a single choice?

"I never really evaluated the alternatives. Surely there have been conversations, also because after ten years in this paddock you develop relationships that go beyond the basic professional environment. Sometimes there are discussions that I consider natural, but I can confirm that it's mostly Nicholas's business more than mine. As far as I'm concerned, and I care about saying this, what I wanted to do was always very clear to me."

You are Monegasque, but by now you've lived for many years inside a profoundly Italian environment. Last year Lewis Hamilton called you "Mr Ferrari", underlining how you have become an integral part of the Scuderia. Has this sense of belonging had a weight in your decision? Sometimes leaving one's comfort zone can be harder than it looks.

"I don't believe it was like that. In my path through motorsport I have changed teams many times, from karts to the feeder series. And even when you stay within the same team, the people you work with often change from one season to another. It's true that I've been in the same environment for eight years, but even here many people have changed. The comfort zone has never been a part of my reasoning when I had to take a decision. It would be wrong to choose where to stay simply because I feel more at ease. What I want is to win. I've always said that. And what I really want is to win in red. This renewal is born with the aim to bring Ferrari back on top."

Let's hypothesize that this contract will get to its expiration point. By then you will have eleven seasons in Formula 1 behind you, ten of which in Ferrari. But you'll still be only 31. Do you ever think about how long your future in this sport can still be?

"I love this sport and I consider myself very lucky to be able to do what I'm doing. But it's difficult to have a clear picture of the future, imagine how I'm going to feel in two, three, five, ten years. It depends on many things. Formula 1 has always been the most important thing in my life, but I'm also a person that loves family and today I don't know where I will be or what my situation will be in a few years. There could be aspects that could influence my general view."

Like having kids?

"For example, yes. But if you ask me what I think today, then I will answer that I could race in F1 until I'm 45! But I wouldn't like to be so sure now and then change my mind in three years. I repeat, it's hard to imagine today what my life will be like in three or five years. But I adore Formula 1 and I want to continue as long as possible."

In the world of Formula 1 we are used to hearing a lot of pleasantries. For this reason some people have started to consider your "I love Ferrari" like something you have to say. Today, looking at your choices, it seems clear that behind those words there's much more.

"Well... I hope that by now it will be clear enough! At the start it was love for this team, for this brand, for what Ferrari represents. Then, after ten years spent in the Ferrari Driver Academy before and the Scuderia after, relationships were born that I care a lot about. I have special rapports with many people and this strengthens my persuasion to want to win with this team even more. All the people that work at Maranello have been pushing to the max for many years, and yes, this is what I want to do."

So far you've always shared the garage with teammates that were more experienced than you, from Vettel to Sainz and Hamilton. Have you ever thought that, after this renewal, the moment could come where you will be the reference point of the team?

"It's weird, isn't it?" (He smiles). "Time passes for everyone, so it will for me too. The moment will come and I think it will be an added motivation. I've always been stimulated by comparing with the best drivers in the world. I have been lucky to have very strong teammates like Carlos, Seb and Lewis, and from each of them I have learned something. But even having a younger driver by my side would be pretty good for me."

When you look at your CV and see eight wins in eight seasons, do you feel more pride for what you have built or more regret for what, in some occasions, has slipped away from you?

"Surely I would like to have more wins and I would like to have won a Championship. Those are things I still don't have. But I've had the chance to drive for the team that has always made me dream. And I also think about the loyalty towards the people that have helped me in a crucial moment of my career, allowing me to get where I am now. If Ferrari hadn't believed in me, i don't know if I would be here today. It's very important to me. Of course, I would like to have more successes on my CV, but I believe everyone always wants something more, even when they've already won a lot. It's true that victories and the Championship are what I'm missing and what I want to conquer. I hope it happens soon."

Will you jump in the harbour on Sunday evening?