Ferrari rewards Leclerc with new five-year contract!

Ferrari has rewarded Charles Leclerc's efforts during his maiden season with the Scuderia by offering the Monegasque a new five-year deal.

Leclerc's seat at the House of Maranello should therefore be secure until at least the end of the 2024 season, leaving F1 with a clear indication of Ferrari's faith in its young charger. He is the team's future and therefore perhaps the Scuderia's de facto number 1 driver.

And since good news never comes alone, Italy's Corriere dello Sport is reporting that Leclerc's annual retainer will rise to €9 million euros from next season!

In only his second season of F1, Leclerc secured two victories with the Scuderia, winning in Belgium and clinching an emotional triumph in Ferrari's home race at Monza.

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But the 22-year-old also left his scorching marks on Saturdays, snatching seven pole positions over the course of the season, the most for any driver in 2019.

"I am very happy to be staying on with Scuderia Ferrari," said an ecstatic Leclerc.

"This past season, driving for the most illustrious team in Formula 1 has been a dream year for me.

"I cannot wait to enjoy an even deeper relationship with the team after what has been an intense and exciting 2019.

"I'm keen to see what the future holds and I can't wait to get going again next season."

Team boss Mattia Binotto added: "With each passing race this year, our wish to extend our contract with Charles became ever more self-evident and the decision means he will now be with us for the next five seasons.

"It demonstrates that Charles and the Scuderia have a firm future together.

"Charles has been part of our family since 2016 and we are more than proud of the results we are achieving with our Academy.

"We are therefore very pleased to be able to announce that he will be with us for many years to come and I’m sure that together, we will write many new pages in the history of the Prancing Horse."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.