Ferrari announce Charles Leclerc contract extension before Monaco Grand Prix

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Charles Leclerc has signed a new deal with Ferrari ahead of his home race in Monaco, the team confirmed on Wednesday morning.

While the eight-time Grand Prix winner signed a long-term deal as recently as 2024, Leclerc’s contract reportedly included an exit clause that could have come into play this year.

But now he has firmly committed to Ferrari, ending any speculation about his future. The Scuderia can continue to build their driver plans around their 2019 signing.

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Charles Leclerc says ‘the dream is still alive’ after signing new Ferrari deal

In a social media post, Ferrari wrote: “He’s here to stay. We are delighted to confirm that Charles Leclerc has agreed a new deal with Scuderia Ferrari HP.”

The accompanying graphic read ‘Sempre Rosso’, which translates to ‘Always Red’. While Leclerc hasn’t entirely ruled out leaving Ferrari in the past, he’s made clear that winning for Ferrari is his ultimate dream.

“When I joined Ferrari, I was a kid living a dream,” Leclerc said in a video on his social channels. “When there’s something you love and dream about, when that becomes reality, it just can’t mean only racing. It means family.

“And maybe, that is exactly what makes this moment so special. For me, it’s always been clear. The dream is still alive, and I’m proud to continue chasing it together. Forza Ferrari.”

Which driver would you rather have RIGHT NOW: Charles Leclerc or Kimi Antonelli?

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In their statement, Ferrari didn’t confirm the exact length of the new deal, but that has become common practice. They simply say he will continue in red ‘for the coming seasons’.

Leclerc’s previous deal ran until the end of 2029, so it’s unclear whether he’s now committed into the 2030s or whether he has simply secured improved terms. It was already the longest contract in F1.

Leclerc has recently overtaken Kimi Raikkonen for second place on Ferrari’s all-time list. He will hit 156 in Monaco and is now guaranteed to surpass Michael Schumacher’s record of 180.

He also ranks second behind Schumacher for poles (58 vs 27) and is tied with Kimi Raikkonen for fourth in the Ferrari podium leaderboard (55). The next target is to improve his win tally, which is only good enough for ninth as it stands.

Leclerc’s best championship finish as a Ferrari driver remains his P2 behind Max Verstappen in 2022. He sits third after the early going this year, but the title race is likely to be an all-Mercedes affair.