Leclerc extends Ferrari F1 contract until 2024
Charles Leclerc has extended his contract with the Ferrari Formula 1 team, in a deal that means the Monegasque will stay at the Scuderia until at least 2024.
Leclerc joined Ferrari for 2019 after just one season in grand prix racing with Sauber, replacing Kimi Raikkonen alongside Sebastian Vettel.
The 22-year-old secured Ferrari's first win of the year in Belgium, although victory in Bahrain was on the cards until he suffered car problems.
He went on to win the Italian Grand Prix on his way to fourth in the standings ahead of Vettel.
Leclerc also grabbed seven pole positions, the most by any driver in 2019.
"I am very happy to be staying on with Scuderia Ferrari," said 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."
Leclerc established himself as the leading Ferrari driver throughout the season, and his partnership with Vettel became one of the focal points of the year.
The most recent example of the tension between them was in the Brazilian Grand Prix, where contact led to both retiring.
Leclerc and Vettel will form Ferrari's line-up again in 2020, the German's contract expiring at the end of next year.
Share Or Save This Story
Alpine becomes Pramac's main partner in MotoGP
Liberty Media's $4bn MotoGP deal facing EU probe
Ocon wants answers to understand pace slump against Alpine team-mate
Charles Leclerc: “McLaren and Red Bull did a step forward that we didn’t do”
F1 driver contracts: How long is each driver tied down for?
Why Monza remains F1's eternal test of team bonds
Charles Leclerc and Pecco Bagnaia: From kings to princes
Sainz blasts "most unfair penalty ever", seeks stewards' explanation
Calado: "Difficult" for WEC Hypercar newcomers "to win straight off"
Juan Pablo Montoya admires Franco Colapinto's "aggressive" approach despite Baku crash
Pedro Acosta told KTM he wants to beat Marc Marquez on the same MotoGP bike
What made Red Bull so fast in the Azerbaijan GP after Max Verstappen’s qualifying issue
Has George Russell hit his stride too late? 'With this form I would have been in the fight'
Why Mercedes is still quicker than McLaren
Baku late-race chaos almost costs George Russell victory over Max Verstappen
How George Russell claimed his career-best pole margin in F1 Azerbaijan GP qualifying
How the chase to catch Mercedes is unfolding
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments