Leclerc ‘happy’ if Vettel remains his team mate at Ferrari next year

While Charles Leclerc has signed a long-term deal with Ferrari until the end of 2024, the identity of his team mate from next year onwards remains undecided.

Four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel has made it clear he would like to stay, while Ferrari Team Principal Mattia Binotto says their preference is to keep the German on-board.

Leclerc and Vettel had some tense times last year, notably in Brazil when they banged wheels and suffered a double retirement, but Leclerc says they get on well.

“Even though we had a few problems on track like in Brazil and things like this, I’m very happy with Seb and it has always been a good relationship even if from the outside it’s probably not seen as it was,” he said, during a conference call with media from his Monaco home.

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“It has always been good between us so I would be happy to keep him but I will respect Ferrari’s decision for whoever is next to me and at the end of the day it’s my job to adapt to the person next to me and you can always learn from whoever is your team mate. I would welcome anybody but if Seb stays I would definitely be happy.”

Talks between Ferrari and Vettel are on-going and while a deal has yet to be done, Vettel suggested a decision could be made either way before the start of the delayed 2020 campaign.

Meanwhile, last weekend, Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport reported Vettel wanted a deal that runs for at least two years, but Ferrari were more interested in one with a reduced salary that is on par with Leclerc's.

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