Charles Leclerc has signed a contract extension with Ferrari until the end of 2028, committing to the team until he has spent a decade in red. The announcement came despite recent frustrations, including a tense radio exchange at the Canadian Grand Prix where Leclerc told his engineer to stop speaking until the final lap. He finished fourth, 34 seconds behind teammate Lewis Hamilton.
Leclerc admitted other teams had made bids for his services, but said Ferrari was always his choice. The Monegasque, who joined Ferrari's driver academy in 2016, has won eight grands prix with the team but has not challenged for a title since 2022, when a combination of strategy errors and driver mistakes ended his early-season lead.
Leclerc's loyalty echoes that of Lando Norris, who signed a long-term deal with McLaren in 2024 and was rewarded with a title fight and constructors' championship. Leclerc believes Ferrari can deliver, citing innovation on the car and a plan to address engine weaknesses. 'Winning in red has a very unique feeling,' he said, 'but we haven't managed to achieve that yet, at least in a full season.'
