Formula 1: Charles Leclerc confirmed at Ferrari through 2024

Ferrari have confirmed that Charles Leclerc is slated to remain with the team for at least another five years, signing him through the 2024 Formula 1 season.

Following his first season driving for Ferrari in his second season in Formula 1, Charles Leclerc and the Italian team have agreed to a long-term agreement to keep him in red through at least the 2024 season.

Leclerc’s original contract with Ferrari, which he signed back in September of 2018 to replace Kimi Raikkonen alongside four-time champion Sebastian Vettel beginning in 2019, was believed to last through the 2022 season.

But whether it did or didn’t is now immaterial, as Ferrari, which recently stated that Leclerc would be a part of their long-term future, have now locked up the 22-year-old Monegasque for the next half-decade, making Leclerc one of the few drivers who is actually under contract beyond the end of the 2020 season.

Extremely happy to announce that I will be staying with @scuderiaferrari for 5 more years. I'm so grateful to be driving for such a team. I've learnt so much during this first year with the team and it is a great starting point to build a strong relationship for the years ahead. pic.twitter.com/3VPtbsCZT1
— Charles Leclerc (@Charles_Leclerc) December 23, 2019

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Leclerc is one of only five drivers who are under contract through at least 2021. The other four are McLaren’s Lando Norris, Racing Point’s Sergio Perez, Renault’s Esteban Ocon and Williams’ George Russell.

Vettel’s contract, meanwhile, is set to expire after the 2020 season. He has driven for the team since replacing two-time champion Fernando Alonso ahead of the 2015 season, and he signed a three-year contract extension back in August of 2017.

Here is what Leclerc has to say about the opportunity to continue driving for Ferrari for at least another five seasons, according to Formula 1.

"“I am very happy to be staying on with Scuderia Ferrari. This past season, driving for the most illustrious team in Formula 1 has been a dream year for me. I cannot wait to enjoy an even deeper relationship with the team after what has been an intense and exciting 2019. I’m keen to see what the future holds and I can’t wait to get going again next season.”"

Here is what Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto had to add.

"“With each passing race this year, our wish to extend our contract with Charles became ever more self-evident and the decision means he will now be with us for the next five seasons. It demonstrates that Charles and the Scuderia have a firm future together. Charles has been part of our family since 2016 and we are more than proud of the results we are achieving with our Academy. We are therefore very pleased to be able to announce that he will be with us for many years to come and I’m sure that together, we will write many new pages in the history of the Prancing Horse.”"

In his first season driving for Ferrari, Leclerc finished in fourth place in the driver standings ahead of Vettel in fifth, becoming the first teammate to beat Vettel in the standings since Vettel joined Ferrari.

Leclerc won two races, first the Belgian Grand Prix at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps and then the Italian Grand Prix at Autodromo Nazionale Monza the following week. By winning the latter, he became the first Ferrari driver to win in their home country since Alonso won the race back in 2010.

Leclerc finished the 21-race season with 10 podium finishes and a series-high seven pole positions. His average finish was 5.57, but it was 3.44 excluding his three retirements.

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Charles Leclerc’s confirmation through the 2024 Formula 1 season by Ferrari is surely one of many confirmations that are slated to come in the near future for beyond the 2020 season with so few drivers under contract to compete in 2021 at this point.

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