Speculation surrounded Charles Leclerc potentially replacing Max Verstappen at Red Bull Racing has stirred intrigue across the F1 paddock as the 2026 FIA Formula 1 Season gets underway. While no official move has been confirmed, the idea alone highlights both Leclerc’s elite status in the sport and the risks tied to leaving Scuderia Ferrari – a team he has long called home.
Now there are additional warnings coming from various angles cautioning Leclerc from taking a Red Bull deal upon an increasingly likely Verstappen exit from the sport.
Paddock Voices Caution Leclerc Against Leaving Ferrari Too Soon
GettyMEXICO CITY, MEXICO – OCTOBER 26: Race winner Lando Norris of Great Britain and McLaren Second placed Charles Leclerc of Monaco and Scuderia Ferrari and Third placed Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing in the Drivers Press Conference during the F1 Grand Prix of Mexico at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on October 26, 2025 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
Charles Leclerc has repeatedly been linked with top rival teams as the Formula 1 sport approaches a major reset as it undergoes the new regulations in 2026 – which have been uneventful since the initial testing in Bahrain. With new power units and chassis rules reshuffling the competition, the team order on the grid is also finding a new groove. Many drivers have expressed their frustrations with the new drivers, but none more so than Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
Reports and insider discussions suggest that if Verstappen were to depart Red Bull due to his unhappiness with the team at present – or seek a new challenge altogether – then Ferrari’s Leclerc would be among the top candidates to step into F1’s most dominant seat, according to GP Blog. However, such a move has not come without warnings. Paddock voices have cautioned Leclerc against leaving Ferrari too quickly, emphasizing the uncertainty surrounding the 2026 regulations and how teams will fare with the new rules and designs.
Leclerc Has Called the 2026 F1 Season a ‘Now or Never’ for Ferrari
GettyMEXICO CITY, MEXICO – OCTOBER 26: Second placed Charles Leclerc of Monaco and Scuderia Ferrari and Third placed Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing celebrate on the podium with Champagne during the F1 Grand Prix of Mexico at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on October 26, 2025 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)
The Monegasque driver himself has hinted that the current season is a “now or never” moment for Ferrari, suggesting his future could hinge on whether the team delivers a competitive car in the new era of Formula 1 racing. A wrong move at this stage could leave even a top-tier driver stuck in an uncompetitive project for years, as it appears Max Verstappen has realized across recent Grand Prix races.
Panning out from Leclerc’s focus on Ferrari, each team has its own emphasis on performance and tailoring its design, race engineering, and overall GP plans to the team’s unique individual needs. For Red Bull, the F1 team has built their strategy almost entirely around Verstappen’s driving style and feedback, meaning that any successor to fill the Dutchman’s seat would face the challenge of adapting to a car philosophy not designed for him. Historically, even strong teammates have struggled to match Verstappen’s dominance within the team and necessary adjustments to the engineering which best suits the four-time Formula 1 World Champion.
Charles Leclerc Told Not to Take Red Bull Deal as Max Verstappen Exits