Leclerc signs long-term contract with Ferrari

Charles Leclerc, the Ferrari driver, agreed to a new long-term contract with the team. The deal for the 28-year-old came in the lead-up to his home Grand Prix in Monaco that weekend. Leclerc signed his last deal in 2024, and Ferrari stated that this renewal would keep him with the team for the "coming seasons."

The Monegasque has competed in 155 races for the Italian outfit since joining in 2019, achieving victory eight times. He currently ranks third in the drivers' championship and has a remarkable record in Monaco, having qualified on pole three times, been second on the grid twice, and third once over the past six years.

"I couldn't be happier to continue this journey with Scuderia Ferrari HP," Leclerc said. "It has always been so much more than just a team to me. It's the team I've loved and dreamed 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.

"Being a Ferrari driver is a dream, but it's also a responsibility I never take for granted. I'll continue to give absolutely everything I have to bring this team back to where it belongs, at the very top, for everyone in Maranello, and above all for the tifosi, whose passion is the heartbeat of this Scuderia."

Leclerc joined the Ferrari Driver Academy in 2016 and, after winning the Formula 2 title in 2017, made his Formula 1 debut the following year with Sauber. He is the team’s second-most capped Formula 1 driver and ranks second for pole positions (27), behind only Michael Schumacher.

The new deal is expected to see him surpass Schumacher's 179 starts for Ferrari, although beating the German's 58 pole positions will be a greater challenge. Team principal Fred Vasseur commented, "Charles has been part of the Ferrari family for many years now, and this renewal feels very natural for us.

"Over these seasons, we have seen him grow, becoming 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, love his determination, and recognize how much this project means to him as we continue to work toward our shared goals."

During the announcement of his contract renewal, Leclerc showcased his affection for Ferrari in a significant video on social media, expressing that joining them had been like "living a dream." He referred to Ferrari as “family,” stating, "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."

Leclerc's ultimate dream remains to win the world championship together, but this goal still eludes him. Since joining Ferrari in 2019, Leclerc has established himself as one of the elite F1 drivers yet has only claimed eight grand prix victories, a modest return for a driver deemed among the fastest in the sport's most historically successful team.