Charles Leclerc’s manager predicts ‘very hot’ F1 driver market after 2026 regulation changes kick in

SINGAPORE – Formula One is heading into a new era in 2026, with

sweeping changes that could shake up the grid

.

The key question remains how major revisions to the cars will affect each team, something that Nicolas Todt, manager of Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc, is closely monitoring.

The 47-year-old Frenchman, founder of motor sport driver management company All Road Management, believes the upcoming regulation changes could trigger substantial driver movement ahead of the 2027 season.

“A lot of drivers are waiting to see how well each team will have worked, and how good their car will be to say ‘I want to stay in my team’ or ‘I want to go to another team because they are doing a better job’,” he told The Straits Times in an interview on the sidelines of the Oct 3-5 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix.

Noting that most seats for next season have already been secured and with some contracts expiring at the end of 2026, Todt expects a “very hot” driver market for 2027.

The regulation changes, which include the downsizing of the current cars to promote closer racing, could also be pivotal for Leclerc.

There have been whispers that other teams have shown interest in the Monegasque, but when asked about this, Todt remained tight-lipped.

A key factor determining the 27-year-old’s future, however, is a car that will help him become an F1 world champion.

Leclerc has established himself as one of the best drivers on the paddock since joining the Prancing Horse in 2019, with 27 pole positions and eight race wins. He came closest to the drivers’ championship in 2022, when he was second behind Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.

In 2024, he signed a contract extension to keep him with the Maranello-based outfit. The length of the contract was undisclosed, with Leclerc saying only that it was for “several more seasons”.

But Ferrari, who are third in the constructors’ standings, have not been as competitive this season and have yet to win a race, although Leclerc has been on the podium five times, including a runner-up finish in Monaco.

Todt said: “Charles is one of the best talent of his generation, with Max and a few of the drivers. He’s not a baby any more because he has done a lot of seasons with Ferrari and of course, I think that we still need to have a winning car.

“Today, we have a good car, but not enough to win the title... We hope it will happen and we hope next year Ferrari will have a very good car with the new regulations.”

Todt, who has also managed other F1 drivers such as Brazilian Felipe Massa, who still races stock cars at 44, has emerging talent such as Singaporean Christian Ho in his stable as well.

The 18-year-old rejoined All Road ahead of his second season in the International Automobile Federation’s (FIA) Formula Three Championship, where he will

race for Rodin Motorsport

after making the switch from Dams Lucas Oil.

In his debut season, Ho, the first local to race in the series, ended 22nd out of 37 drivers after 10 rounds, and was Dams’ top driver.

Todt believes that he is “a very good talent”, pointing to how he finished second in the 2023 F4 Spanish Championship and

won the Eurocup-3

in his rookie year in 2024.

“This year was, of course, a big step,” said Todt. “On top of that, I don’t want to find excuses, but I don’t think he was in a very competitive team, so if you look at the main results, this year was not great – it was not only due to the team, but I think he was not put in the best conditions.

“That’s why we have decided to put him in a team that we think is going to do a better job for him – Rodin Motorsport, which is doing a very good job in Formula Two.”

The team’s alumni include current F1 stars such as McLaren’s Lando Norris, George Russell of Mercedes and Williams’ Carlos Sainz, all of whom turned out for the outfit when it was known as Carlin Motorsport before a change in management.

Referring to motor sport as a “one year to learn, one year to win” pursuit, Todt believes that Ho will be in contention for top positions next season.

But with F1 the ultimate goal for Ho, Todt emphasised that winning is crucial – something that demands hard work and maturity in a fiercely competitive environment.

Ho believes that working with Todt will be instrumental to his development. The teenager said: “It was the best choice to try and help me as a driver to improve and find the best connections for the future.”