Aditya ChaudhuriScuderia Ferrari have announced that Charles Leclerc will continue with them beyond the upcoming 2024 Formula One (F1) season, the Monégasque having signed a new contract extension with the Italian outfit.
Leclerc, a former Ferrari Driver Academy member who joined the Scuderia in 2016, made his Formula One debut in 2018 with Sauber. He moved to Ferrari in 2019, replacing their last Drivers’ champion till date, Kimi Räikkönen, to partner Sebastian Vettel.
During his time with Ferrari, Leclerc has so far scored five wins along with 23 poles.
While the exact length of the new deal is unknown, Leclerc has stated that he will be racing for Ferrari for “several more seasons”.
Speaking about Leclerc’s renewal, Frédéric Vasseur, Ferrari Team Principal, said:
“Charles’ bond to the Scuderia goes beyond that of just a driver and a team, as he has been part of the Ferrari family for eight years now, dating back to a time before he first sported the Prancing Horse emblem on his race suit. His values and those of our team are intertwined and so it was natural for us to be in agreement on extending our collaboration. We know him for his incessant desire to push himself to the limit and we appreciate his extraordinary abilities when it comes to fighting and overtaking in a race. We are determined to give Charles a winning car and I know that his determination and commitment are elements that can make the difference in helping us reach our goals.“
Leclerc added:
“I’m very pleased to know that I will be wearing the Scuderia Ferrari race suit for several more seasons to come. 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.“
