Leclerc Extends Ferrari Contract Before Monaco Home Race
Charles Leclerc has secured a new multi-year contract to continue driving for Ferrari, extending his association with the team that began in 2019. The 28-year-old Monegasque will remain alongside Lewis Hamilton, who also holds a long-term deal with the Scuderia.
Ferrari revealed the extension on the eve of Leclerc's home Grand Prix at Monaco this weekend. Throughout his career, Leclerc has been a dedicated driver for Ferrari, participating in 155 races for the team. This places him second only to Michael Schumacher, who raced for Ferrari from 1996 to 2006 with remarkable success.
“I couldn’t be happier to continue this journey with Ferrari,” Leclerc said. “It has always been so much more than just a team to me. 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.”
Leclerc has achieved eight wins with Ferrari, a figure that many consider below his evident talent. He has also excelled in qualifying, securing 27 pole positions. His highest championship finish was second place in 2022, a season when Ferrari started strongly but was ultimately surpassed by the dominant Red Bull team, led by Max Verstappen. Currently, Leclerc is third in the 2024 standings, holding a three-point lead over teammate Hamilton.
Ferrari's decision to retain their current driver lineup reflects a commitment to stability and confidence in Leclerc's ability to deliver results, provided the team supplies a competitive car. Notably, Leclerc won his home race for the first time in 2024. The Ferrari car is anticipated to perform exceptionally well on the streets of Monte Carlo this year, potentially representing the team's best opportunity for a victory this season.
Leclerc's journey with Ferrari began when he joined their academy in 2016. He won the Formula 2 title in 2017 and made his Formula 1 debut with Sauber in 2018 before being promoted to Ferrari.
“Charles has been part of the Ferrari family for many years now and this renewal feels like something very natural for us,” said Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur. “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.”
