Charles Leclerc has signed a new multi-year deal to remain driving for Ferrari, with the 28-year-old Monegasque extending his relationship with the team which began in 2019. He will continue to drive alongside Lewis Hamilton who also has a long-term contract with the team.
Ferrari announced their decision to continue with Leclerc on the eve of his home grand prix at Monaco this weekend. He has been a staunch Ferrari driver for almost all of his career and has competed in 155 races for the Scuderia, a tally second only to Michael Schumacher's enormously successful tenure with Ferrari between 1996 and 2006.
Leclerc's Journey with Ferrari
Leclerc joined the Ferrari academy in 2016, went on to win the F2 title in 2017 and made his F1 debut with Sauber in 2018 before being promoted to Ferrari in 2019. Since then, he has secured eight wins and 27 pole positions, showcasing his exceptional qualifying ability. His best championship finish was second in 2022, when Ferrari started strongly but were overtaken by the dominant Red Bull driven by Max Verstappen.
Current Season Performance
Leclerc is currently third in this year's standings, three points ahead of Hamilton. He won at his home race for the first time in 2024, and the Ferrari is expected to be well suited to the streets of Monte Carlo this year, potentially offering the team's best chance of a win this season.
Team Principal's Confidence
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur expressed his satisfaction with the renewal. “Charles has been part of the Ferrari family for many years now and this renewal feels like something very natural for us,” Vasseur said. “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.”
Leclerc echoed these sentiments, stating: “I couldn’t be happier to continue this journey with Ferrari. 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.”
Ferrari's decision to maintain their current lineup is a commitment to stability and a demonstration of faith that Leclerc can deliver if the team provides competitive machinery.
