Charles Leclerc got Ferrari fans excited about more than just his Azerbaijan Grand Prix pole position after qualifying in Baku.
The Monegasque's pace over one lap has never been in doubt and he lived up to his reputation on the shores of the Caspian Sea. He put aside Ferrari's tough start to the 2023 season on Friday to stick his car on pole for Sunday's race – repeating the trick for the Sprint the following day.
It was just the tonic the Tifosi needed amid the team's difficulties. And if they loved that, then they will also have adored the message sent by the Monegasque in the context of recent rumours linking him with a Mercedes move.
With the future of Lewis Hamilton unclear – the seven-time world champion's contract expires at the end of this year – Leclerc has been identified as the main candidate to potentially replace him.
Perhaps with that in mind, Leclerc's reaction to securing pole in Baku was telling. Looking directly at the camera of one of the photographers in parc ferme, the Monegasque made the point of smiling and pointing at the Ferrari crest emblazoned on his chest.
One prominent Italian F1 journalist last week claimed it is an "open secret" that Leclerc has been in talks with Mercedes. But the racer shut down that claim, insisting there is "zero truth" in it when probed on the subject by reporters in Baku.
Ferrari chief Frederic Vasseur had a similar message as he underlined Leclerc's importance to the team. "Charles confirmed that he is committed to the project and he wants to be world champion with Ferrari," said the Frenchman.
"I am confident that you don't have to focus on the last two races. We want to build up something with our drivers, I have always said the drivers are key in the project and you have to build up the team around them, that is what we are doing."
And Mercedes chief Toto Wolff also denied contract talks with Leclerc, telling reporters: "As he said, we didn't have a single conversation, except maybe at the airport about whether to go to Starbucks! I don't know where this rumour came from or if someone is spreading it. But there's nothing there."
