Charles Leclerc signs £28m Ferrari contract extension as F1 star looks to end Max Verstappen’s dominance

CHARLES LECLERC has signed a contract extension with Ferrari worth around £28million a season.

The 26-year-old's current deal was due to expire at the end of this year but Ferrari have signed him up to a new one, believed to run until the end of 2026.

Leclerc joined Ferrari in 2016 and came through the Italian team's academy before making his debut for F1's most famous brand in 2019.

The Monaco-born racer has taken 30 podiums for Ferrari in 103 races, winning five times.

He said: "I'm very pleased to know that I will be wearing the Scuderia Ferrari race suit for several more seasons to come.

"To race for this team has been my dream since I was three years old: I used to watch the Monaco Grand Prix from the window of a friend's apartment and I would always look out for the red cars.

"This team is my second family ever since I joined the Ferrari Driver Academy in 2016 and we have achieved a lot together, fighting through thick and thin over the past five years.

"However, I believe the best is yet to come and I can't wait for this season to start, to make further progress and be competitive at every race.

"My dream remains that of winning the world championship with Ferrari and I'm sure that in the years ahead, we will enjoy great times together and make our fans happy."

Leclerc finished fifth in the drivers' championship last season but ended the campaign without a win as Red Bull's Max Verstappen dominated with 19 victories in 22.

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Ferrari have acted quickly ahead of the new season to kill off any potential interest in Leclerc from Mercedes or Red Bull, who are assessing the futures of Lewis Hamilton and Sergio Perez respectively.

Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur added: "Charles' bond to the Scuderia goes beyond that of just a driver and a team.

"His values and those of our team are intertwined and so it was natural for us to be in agreement on extending our collaboration.

"We know him for his incessant desire to push himself to the limit and we appreciate his extraordinary abilities when it comes to fighting and overtaking in a race.

"We are determined to give Charles a winning car and I know that his determination and commitment are elements that can make the difference in helping us reach our goals."

Ferrari, who will launch their 2024 F1 car on February 13th, will now turn their attention to signing Leclerc's team-mate, Carlos Sainz, to a new deal until 2026.

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