Charles Leclerc has secured what appears to be Formula 1’s longest current driver contract after signing a new extension with Ferrari that will keep the Monégasque star at Maranello well into the 2030s. The announcement came ahead of his home Monaco Grand Prix, with Ferrari confirming a “renewal of its agreement” with their star driver, though the team remained vague on specific details beyond stating Leclerc will “continue to wear the team’s colours for the coming seasons.”
Sources indicate the new deal extends Leclerc’s existing contract, which already ran through 2029, meaning the 26-year-old is now committed to the Italian team potentially through 2032 or beyond. The timing comes as somewhat of a surprise given Ferrari’s struggles early in the 2026 season, with the SF-26 hampered by power deficits and straightline speed issues while Mercedes has dominated the opening races. Despite these challenges, Leclerc clearly believes Ferrari remains his best path to championship glory.
Limited options elsewhere likely influenced Leclerc’s decision to extend with the Prancing Horse. Mercedes has George Russell and rising star Kimi Antonelli locked in for the coming seasons, with any external interest focused primarily on Red Bull’s four-time champion Max Verstappen. Meanwhile, McLaren has both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri secured on long-term deals with little reason for change given their current performance trajectory.
“I couldn’t be happier to continue this journey with Scuderia Ferrari HP,” Leclerc said. “It has always been so much more than just a team to me. It’s the team I’ve loved and dreamt of being part of since I was a child, and after all these years it has become a second family.” The Monaco native joined Ferrari’s Driver Academy in 2016, won the Formula 2 championship in 2017, and moved to F1 with Sauber before joining Ferrari in 2019.
Team principal Fred Vasseur described the extension as a natural progression, praising Leclerc’s development both as a driver and team leader. “Charles has been part of the Ferrari family for many years now and this renewal feels like something very natural for us,” Vasseur explained. “Over these seasons we have seen him grow, to become not only one of the strongest drivers in Formula 1, but also a person who is completely at one with the team and everything Ferrari represents.” If Leclerc fulfills this extended contract, he will surpass Michael Schumacher’s record for most Grand Prix appearances in Ferrari colors.