Leclerc tipped for Aston Martin switch if Verstappen pursuit stalls

13:34, 18 Dec

byOlly Darcy

Ted Kravitz believes Charles Leclerc could join Aston Martin if Ferrari cannot deliver a World Championship to the Monegasque driver.

"If Aston Martin, with a Newey car and a Honda engine in a couple of years, does do well and doesn’t get Verstappen, then I would put Leclerc in there.”

- Ted Kravitz

The 28-year-old impressed in 2025 to finish P5 in the drivers' standings with 242 points and seven podiums, but a lacklustre Ferrari campaign saw them fall to P4 in the Constructors' Championship, failing to win a race for the first time since 2021.

The Scuderia have yet to supply Lelerc with a championship-winning car since he joined the team in 2019, and talks about a move away from Ferrari continue to grow before a critical 2026 season.

“Let’s not forget about Charles Leclerc,” Kravitz stated on Sky Sports' podcast, The F1 Show.

Charles Leclerc behind the wheel of the troublesome SF-25 - Photo: Race Pictures

“Something else that happened this year was that his manager, Nicolas Todt, said just after the summer break, started talking about, well, it’s time for Charles to be in a car that’s worthy of the championship and potentially looking elsewhere, even though I think he signed for Ferrari to the end of 2028. So it could be Leclerc leaving Ferrari before [Lewis] Hamilton does.”

“He’s been brilliant this year, hasn’t he? I think he’s made my top five [drivers of 2025]. He’s been great. He’s ready to win a championship like Russell.

“But where is he going to go? Potentially, if Aston Martin with a Newey car and a Honda engine in a couple of years does do well and doesn’t get Verstappen, then I would put Leclerc in there.”

Will Aston Martin tempt Verstappen or Leclerc?

The move from Aston Martin to make Adrian Newey team principal for the 2026 season marked a seismic leadership shift, potentially tempting Red Bull driver Max Verstappen to the British team.

However, if that move does not come to fruition, former F1 driver Karun Chandhok agrees with Kravitz that Leclerc should be a name to watch out for.

“He’s at his peak, isn’t he? He’s at an age and a time of his career where he’s now got the experience. He’s always had the speed," explained the 41-year-old.

“He’s in that category with a George Russell, a Lando Norris, and an Oscar Piastri. That next rung just below Max Verstappen, who could all win the world championship in the right car if they had the opportunity.”

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