Charles Leclerc agrees long-term contract extension with Ferrari

Charles Leclerc has confirmed, through the BBC, that he has signed a new long-term contract with Ferrari. The deal was announced just before the Monaco Grand Prix and is being treated as a critical move by the Maranello team as it heads toward the next generation of technical regulations.

Leclerc's current contract was set to expire at the end of 2026. The new agreement is understood to extend through the end of 2028, with a one-year option to 2029. The salary level has not been officially disclosed, but BBC sources suggest the base figure may exceed 50 million euros per year. That number is broadly in line with the most recent deal Lewis Hamilton signed at Mercedes.

Since joining Ferrari in 2019 Leclerc has recorded 11 race wins, 31 podiums and 23 pole positions. He has not yet won a Drivers' Championship, but his pace and consistency have placed him at the centre of Maranello's long-term vision. Mid-season wins in Bahrain and India last year became central pillars of Ferrari's 2026 title bid.

BBC chief F1 writer Andrew Benson reports that the performance gain Ferrari has derived from the new FIA technical regulations introduced for 2026 was a decisive factor in Leclerc's choice. Ferrari's new chassis concept, power-unit efficiency and sustainable-fuel blend have moved the team into the top tier of manufacturers in terms of single-lap performance.

Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur said in the team announcement that 'Charles is the name shared between Ferrari's present and its future; this contract is a concrete demonstration of the trust he has built with the team'. Vasseur added that Leclerc's input on the late-season runs and the early test mileage on the new car had been 'immeasurable' to Ferrari's progress.

Leclerc told the BBC, 'There is a family here; I have wanted to complete this journey since I first walked through the gates at Maranello. Winning a title with Ferrari is a dream I have carried from childhood.' He added that he placed particular importance on racing in front of his home crowd at the upcoming Monaco Grand Prix.

The new agreement was announced at a moment when speculation about the team's internal balance has been growing. Hamilton's move to Maranello in the summer of 2025 brought the long-running question of Ferrari's driver pecking order back into focus. With this contract, Leclerc's position inside the team is strengthened.

The statement from Ferrari chairman John Elkann reinforced the message of investment from Maranello. Elkann said 'the future with Charles is a concrete framework to reach the performance level we are targeting; within the new FIA chassis and power-unit regulations Ferrari is committed to investing in the very best racing talent available.'

The team's 2026 performance has historical weight. Ferrari last won the Drivers' Championship with Kimi Raikkonen in 2007; the 19-year title drought now faces its most realistic prospect of closure this season. The new Leclerc contract signals that the driver also sees the championship window extending past 2026.

Leclerc will return to the track this weekend in Monaco, racing in Ferrari colours with a particular incentive. Many F1 commentators have stressed that the signing is the start of a multi-year commitment rather than its conclusion. Leclerc has a chance, in the second half of 2026, to prove he is best placed to mount a more sustained fight against the McLaren and Mercedes rivals Ferrari is still chasing.