Toto Wolff’s past comments on Charles Leclerc amid 2027 Mercedes speculation

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The driver market for the 2025 Formula 1 season has been fairly straightforward so far, but early signs suggest 2026 could be much more unpredictable.

Cadillac are set to join as the grid’s 11th team, Sauber will rebrand as Audi’s works outfit, and Aston Martin will switch to Honda engines after leaving Mercedes.

While there are only a few contracts still unsettled for next year — including George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli — several more drivers will be entering the final year of their deals in 2026.

Drivers considering moves ahead of new regulations

A single top driver making a move could easily spark a chain reaction across the paddock, and some are already positioning themselves for potential opportunities.

Others might be waiting to see how competitive their teams look under the new regulations before committing to anything long-term. By then, though, it might be too late with plenty of deals getting done before then.

Piastri has been rumoured to have interest from Ferrari as tensions reportedly rise at McLaren between him and Norris. One of those seats may become available if Leclerc decides he can’t wait any longer for Ferrari to build a championship-winning car after several years without significant progress.

The Monegasque’s representatives are said to have begun discussions with Mercedes about a possible switch in 2027. And team principal Toto Wolff has been vocal about his admiration for Leclerc in the past:

Wolff once called Leclerc a ‘champion in the making’

Wolff’s praise came after the 2019 Bahrain Grand Prix, where Leclerc lost out on his first win due to an engine problem. Speaking to Formula 1’s official website at the time, Wolff said:

“In Leclerc, I think we’re seeing a young champion in the making who was the emotional winner [on Sunday]. [He was the] fastest man and fastest machine. He got all the cruel side of motor racing, and it was our [good] fortune.

“He has a good personality. He is a humble young man, and he’s very fast. The combination of speed, personality and being able to temper your emotions in both directions is a great ingredient.

“I know that many other drivers who have the lion in them, like he certainly has, would have reacted in a much more controversial way about third place and would have been angry and would have displayed that. None of that you see with Charles.

Wolff continued: “We have always expected him [Leclerc] to be a threat. “He is in a great car and has the skills and the character to be very successful. It’s a challenge that we really enjoy.”

“We want to fight against the best ones in the best machines. When you saw Lewis fighting Sebastian in a car and engine that wasn’t on Sebastian’s level, it motivates them even more.”

Could Charles Leclerc ever line up for Mercedes?

Leclerc’s growing frustration with Ferrari hasn’t gone unnoticed, especially as the team looks unlikely to secure a win this season.

It’s tough to see the current setup at Maranello producing a championship-calibre car any time soon, but the offseason could bring significant changes.

Leclerc is under a long-term contract with Ferrari, but as with all F1 deals, there are likely exit clauses on both sides.

Where could Charles Leclerc end up on the 2027 F1 grid?

That leads to an interesting question: would Mercedes consider bringing Leclerc on board?

Wolff has openly praised Max Verstappen in the past, so he’s clearly not afraid to go after big names if the opportunity presents itself.

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If Antonelli is seen as the team’s long-term lead driver, then swapping Russell for Leclerc might not align with their plans.

Still, a pairing of Russell and Leclerc would be a strong line-up on paper, though it could pose its own challenges in terms of team dynamics.