Charles Leclerc’s most emotional win in Formula 1 came at his home race, the Monaco Grand Prix, in 2024. After years of heartbreak on the streets where he grew up, Leclerc finally secured a long-awaited win in the Principality.
As the grid returns to the streets of Monaco for this weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix, Leclerc is savoring another win.
Leclerc and Ferrari confirmed a new multi-year deal, that will see the 28-year-old driver continue to race in red for “the coming seasons of the Formula 1 World Championship.”
The driver referred to Ferrari as “much more than just a team” in a statement.
“I couldn’t be happier to continue this journey with Scuderia Ferrari HP. It has always been so much more than just a team to me,” said Leclerc. “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. Together we’ve shared incredible moments and some tougher ones, but I believe in this team more than ever, and I’m deeply grateful that we will keep pushing side by side toward our shared goal of bringing the World Championship back to Maranello.
“Being a Ferrari driver is a dream, but it’s also a responsibility I never take for granted. I’ll continue to give absolutely everything I have to bring this team back to where it belongs, at the very top, for everyone in Maranello, and above all for the tifosi, whose passion is the heartbeat of this Scuderia.”
The announcement comes at a fascinating time in the sport. Mercedes has been the class of the field in 2026, with the Silver Arrows starting the new year on the front foot under the new regulation set. Every Grand Prix has been won by a Mercedes driver, either Kimi Antonelli or George Russell, and Antonelli leads the Drivers’ Championship by a commanding 43 points over his teammate, 131 to 88.
Leclerc sits in third with 75 points, just three points ahead of teammate Lewis Hamilton.
Mercedes also leads the Constructors’ Championship with 219 points, 72 points ahead of Ferrari.
Yet, the Scuderia is considered the favorite for Leclerc’s home race, as the high downforce track favors Ferrari’s challenger while neutralizing the strength of Mercedes’ W17. The Silver Arrows are at their best on long straights, where the team’s power unit can show it’s strength.
Antonelli himself tapped Ferrari as the favorite after his win at the Canadian Grand Prix.
And zooming out to look at the grid long-term, Ferrari likely represented the best spot for Leclerc, due to his tight relationship with the team. His connection with team principal Frederic Vasseur dates back to his early days in the sport, as a driver for Alfa Romeo, and according to several reports, Leclerc has a very close relationship with senior Ferrari leadership, including CEO Benedetto Vigna and President John Elkann.
Leclerc has also been a part of the Ferrari family for a decade, having joined the team’s junior academy in 2016.
Vasseur called the move “very natural” in the announcement.
“Charles has been part of the Ferrari family for many years now and this renewal feels like something very natural for us,” said Vasseur. “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. We appreciate his talent, we love his determination and the way he approaches every day with the people in the Scuderia, both on and off the track.
“We know how much this project means to him and we are happy to continue working towards our shared goals.”
Leclerc’s current contract kept him with Ferrari through the 2027, and it is believed this deal runs beyond 2028.
