SPORTS
Leclerc signs Ferrari F1 contract extension
![Leclerc signs Ferrari F1 contract extension](/files/2024/1/1200x630/17061994354750439109_1200x630.jpg)
Baku, January 25, AZERTAC
Ferrari stopped short of disclosing the exact length of the deal, but it is expected the Monegasque will remain with the team into the 2026 regulations shift, according to Motorsport.
"I’m very pleased to know that I will be wearing the Scuderia Ferrari race suit for several more seasons to come," Leclerc said.
"To race for this team has been my dream since I was three years old: I used to watch the Monaco Grand Prix from the window of a friend’s apartment at Ste Devote corner and I would always look out for the red cars.
"This team is my second family ever since I joined the Ferrari Driver Academy in 2016 and we have achieved a lot together, fighting through thick and thin over the past five years.
"However, I believe the best is yet to come and I can’t wait for this season to start, to make further progress and be competitive at every race. My dream remains that of winning the World Championship with Ferrari and I’m sure that in the years ahead, we will enjoy great times together and make our fans happy."
A long-time protege of Ferrari, Leclerc joined the Maranello outfit for the 2019 season after plying his trade with Alfa Romeo during his rookie year.
The 26-year-old took his first two wins for the Prancing Horse that season in Belgium and Italy and has since added three more wins to his tally, as Ferrari struggled to compete with first Mercedes and now Red Bull.
His five wins are backed up by 23 pole positions, an indication of his raw speed amid Ferrari's recent issues to stay competitive across an entire race distance.
Leclerc's current Ferrari deal was set to expire at the end of the upcoming 2024 season, prompting speculation over his future with the team.
His team-mate Carlos Sainz is in a similar position, with the Spaniard seeking clarity over his future before the season gets under way next month in Bahrain.