Charles Leclerc will proceed as a Ferrari driver for “a number of” extra seasons after he signed a contract extension along with his present group.
The 26-year-old has raced with the Scuderia since 2019, his second season in Formulation 1. He was initially a member of Ferrari’s junior driver programme and made his F1 debut with Sauber in 2018.
Leclerc has yet one more season on his present contract with the group, which he signed after the top of the 2019 championship, however his new deal will maintain him at Ferrari past this 12 months.
“I’m more than happy to know that I might be sporting the Scuderia Ferrari race go well with for a number of extra seasons to return,” Leclerc stated.
“To race for this group has been my dream since I used to be three years outdated. This group is my second household ever since I joined the Ferrari Driver Academy in 2016 and we’ve achieved rather a lot collectively, combating via thick and skinny over the previous 5 years.
“Nevertheless, I consider the most effective is but to return and I can’t anticipate this season to start out, to make additional progress and be aggressive at each race. My dream stays that of profitable the world championship with Ferrari and I’m positive that within the years forward, we are going to get pleasure from nice instances collectively and make our followers pleased.”
Ferrari group principal Frederic Vasseur, who additionally labored with Leclerc at Sauber, stated it was a “pure” choice to increase his contract.
“We all know him for his incessant need to push himself to the restrict and we respect his extraordinary skills relating to combating and overtaking in a race,” Vasseur stated. “We’re decided to provide Charles a profitable automobile and I do know that his dedication and dedication are components that may make the distinction in serving to us attain our targets.”
Over 5 seasons and 102 grand prix begins with Ferrari, Leclerc has taken 5 grand prix victories, 23 pole positions, 30 podium appearances and a complete of 1,035 factors. His achievements make him the fifth most profitable F1 driver over that very same interval, behind Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton, Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez.
Leclerc fell from second within the drivers’ championship in 2022 to fifth final 12 months, equal on factors with Fernando Alonso. Regardless of six podium finishes, Leclerc didn’t win a grand prix. His Ferrari group mate, Carlos Sainz Jnr, was the one non-Pink Bull driver to win a race all through 2023.
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