Leclerc signs new Ferrari deal ahead of home race in Monaco!

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Just days before the most emotional race weekend of his season, Charles Leclerc has reaffirmed his commitment to the team that has defined his Formula 1 career, signing a new contract extension with Ferrari and ensuring his future remains firmly tied to the Scuderia.

For Leclerc, this was never simply a contract negotiation. It was the continuation of a relationship built on childhood dreams, shared disappointments, and an unwavering belief that one day he can return Ferrari to the summit of Formula 1.

The announcement comes ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix, the race that carries more personal significance than any other for the Monegasque driver and where he famously claimed a long-awaited home victory in 2024.

More than a team

Leclerc has repeatedly spoken about his ambition to become a world champion with Ferrari, and his latest commitment underlines that the goal remains unchanged despite the challenges of recent seasons.

“I couldn’t be happier to continue this journey with Scuderia Ferrari HP. It has always been so much more than just a team to me,” Leclerc said.

“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.

“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.”

The new deal, described by Ferrari as an agreement that will see Leclerc remain in red for the “coming seasons,” is expected to keep him with the team well beyond Michael Schumacher’s record of 180 Formula 1 starts for Ferrari. Leclerc currently stands at 155.

Ferrari’s faith remains unshaken

Despite the statistics highlighting the scale of the task ahead – Leclerc’s eight victories and 27 pole positions still some distance from Schumacher’s Ferrari benchmarks – the team’s belief in its star driver has never wavered.

“Charles has been part of the Ferrari family for many years now and this renewal feels like something very natural for us,” team principal Fred 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.

©Ferrari

“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. We know how much this project means to him and we are happy to continue working towards our shared goals.”

With Lewis Hamilton also contracted through 2027, Ferrari’s driver line-up appears settled for the foreseeable future. More importantly, so too does the bond between Leclerc and the team he has spent a lifetime dreaming of driving for.

The championship they both crave remains elusive. But as Monaco approaches, Ferrari and its hometown hero have made one thing clear: the journey is far from over.

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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.