Charles Leclerc has committed his long-term future to Ferrari, signing a new contract with the iconic Formula 1 team just days before his home Grand Prix in Monaco. The deal, announced by Ferrari, will keep the 28-year-old Monegasque driver with the Scuderia for the “coming seasons,” according to BBC Sport.

Leclerc’s renewal comes five years after he first joined the team in 2019, having previously signed his last contract in 2024. His journey with Ferrari began even earlier, entering the Ferrari Driver Academy in 2016 and going on to win the Formula 2 title in 2017 before making his Formula 1 debut with Sauber in 2018.

“I couldn’t be happier to continue this journey with Scuderia Ferrari HP. It has always been so much more than just a team to me,” Leclerc stated. “It’s the team I’ve loved and dreamt of being part of since I was a child, and after all these years it has become a second family. Together we’ve shared incredible moments and some tougher ones, but I believe in this team more than ever, and I’m deeply grateful that we will keep pushing side by side toward our shared goal of bringing the World Championship back to Maranello.”

Leclerc’s Ferrari legacy continues

Since joining the team, Leclerc has competed in 155 races for Ferrari, securing eight victories. He currently holds third position in the drivers’ championship standings. His impact on the team’s history is already significant; he is Ferrari’s second-most capped Formula 1 driver and ranks second for pole positions with 27, behind only Michael Schumacher who holds 58.

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The new long-term agreement is expected to see Leclerc surpass Michael Schumacher’s record of 179 starts for the Italian outfit, further cementing his place in Ferrari lore.

Team principal expresses confidence

Team Principal Fred Vasseur echoed Leclerc’s enthusiasm for the renewed partnership. “Charles has been part of the Ferrari family for many years now and this renewal feels like something very natural for us,” Vasseur commented. “Over these seasons we have seen him grow, to become not only one of the strongest drivers in Formula 1, but also a person who is completely at one with the team and everything Ferrari represents. We appreciate his talent, we love his determination and the way he approaches every day with the people in the Scuderia, both on and off the track.”

The timing of the announcement is particularly poignant, arriving just before the Monaco Grand Prix, a race where Leclerc has consistently demonstrated exceptional qualifying prowess. In the past six years, he has frequently started at the sharp end of the grid:

• Leclerc secured pole position in Monaco in 2021, 2022 and 2024, underlining his exceptional one-lap pace around the streets of his home circuit.
• Despite his qualifying success, misfortune often denied him victory in Monaco until his emotional breakthrough win in 2024, when he finally converted pole position into a home Grand Prix triumph.
• His 2024 Monaco pole was the third of his career at the Principality and helped pave the way for Ferrari’s first Monaco victory since Sebastian Vettel’s success in 2017.

Both Leclerc and Vasseur highlighted their shared ambition to bring a World Championship back to Maranello, underscoring the long-term vision behind this significant contract extension.

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Sources: www.bbc.com

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