Charles Leclerc says he is not accustomed to the kind of rumours that are currently swirling around his future in Formula 1. International reports this week suggested Ferrari president John Elkann has been in touch with Mercedes’ seven time world champion Lewis Hamilton about a big-money deal. “I would be surprised that Ferrari would want to get rid of Leclerc to sign Lewis because they are very much in love with Leclerc,” he told Press Association. “I love Ferrari, I’ve always dreamed of racing for this team and these rumours don’t affect me,” Leclerc insisted. But as rumours of Hamilton’s talks with Elkann swirl, Leclerc denied that he too may be in discussions with Ferrari’s top management about his own contract. “Ferrari doesn’t need a top driver, they need a top car,” he insisted, explaining that a driver’s influence is much more limited today than in the past.

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