The day Ferrari fans have been waiting for has finally arrived.
The F1 team has announced the extension of Charles Leclerc's contract.
A new contract for the driver has long been rumored, but the team officially announced it on Thursday.
The length of the contract was not immediately disclosed.in statement The team has indicated that Leclerc will continue to drive for Ferrari “beyond the 2024 season”.
“Charles' ties to the Scuderia go beyond just being a driver and a team; he has been part of the Ferrari family for eight years, going back to the days before he first wore the Prancing Horse emblem on his race suit.” said team principal Frédéric Vasseur in a team statement. “His values and those of our team are intertwined, so it was natural for us to agree to expand our cooperation.
“We know his constant desire to push the limits and value his exceptional ability when it comes to fighting and overtaking in races. We are determined to provide Charles with a winning car. I know his determination and dedication will be the difference-maker in achieving our goals.”
As for Leclerc, the driver released a video about the extension and the following statement:
“I am very happy to know that I will be wearing the Scuderia Ferrari race suit for the next few seasons. Racing with this team has been a dream of mine since I was three years old. I often watched the Monaco Grand Prix from my apartment window. As I turned the corner, I always noticed the red car. This team has been with me ever since I joined the Ferrari Driver Academy in 2016. , my second family, and over the past five years we have overcome hardships and achieved a lot together. However, I believe that the best is yet to come, and I hope to continue making further progress and in every race. I can't wait for this season to start so I can be competitive in Ferrari. My dream is to win the World Championship with Ferrari and I'm looking forward to the next few years of great times together and making our fans happy. I'm confident.”
Leclerc joined the Ferrari Driver Academy in 2016 and spent a year in F2 before competing in his first F1 season with Sauber in 2018. He then joined Ferrari for the 2019 season. Leclerc finished fifth in the drivers' championship last year, a year after finishing second behind Max Verstappen in 2022.
