Charles Leclerc to remain at Ferrari beyond 2024
Credit to Author: Laurence Edmondson| Date: Thu, 25 Jan 2024 09:43:42 EST
Charles Leclerc has signed a new contract to continue as a Ferrari driver beyond the end of the 2024 season.
The announcement on Thursday did not state the length of the new contract, but reports in the Italian media at the end of last year speculated he would commit to the team for another five years.
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In Ferrari’s press release, Leclerc said the deal would see him “wearing the Scuderia Ferrari race suit for several more seasons to come.”
The 26-year-old made his Ferrari debut in 2019 after joining the team’s driver academy in 2016 and spending his first year in F1 at Alfa Romeo in 2018.
A contract extension was expected ahead of the upcoming 2024 season after both driver and team principal Fred Vasseur made clear their intention to remain together in interviews last year.
“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,” Leclerc said. “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.”
Vasseur added: “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.”
The deal removes Leclerc from what is expected to be an active driver market this year, with the vast majority of contracts set to expire at the end of 2024, including Leclerc’s teammate Carlos Sainz and Red Bull’s Sergio Perez.