Charles Leclerc has revealed he did have options elsewhere on the grid before signing a new contract with Ferrari but said he firmly believes in the Italian giants’ “plan” to finally return to the front of F1. Ferrari announced a new deal for the long-serving Leclerc on Wednesday ahead of the driver’s home Monaco Grand Prix. Although no specific details about the duration of the deal were released by the team, and there are conflicting reports as to how long it runs to, the extension
is understood to have been at least two years and ties him to Ferrari to the end of the 2028 season, as a minimum. Monaco GP: UK schedule and how to watch on Sky SportsF1 2026 standings | F1 2026 Calendar | F1 Gossip ColumnDownload the Sky Sports app for expert analysis, best video & more📱Not got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW📺 Leclerc’s immediate future at the Scuderia had not appeared in particular doubt, given he had signed what
at the time was thought to be a multi-year deal beyond 2026 two years ago, but news of the latest extension acts as further sign of driver and team’s faith in each other just months into the sport’s new era of rules. And asked in Monaco on Thursday if he had had alternative options elsewhere on the grid, Leclerc said: “There were, yes. “I’m not going to say [who]. “They can say it if they want but for me Ferrari was always the choice.” Leclerc
was 18 years old when he first joined Ferrari as an academy driver in 2016 and graduated to an F1 race seat with them in 2019 after spending an initial year on loan at Sauber. The Monegasque is set to surpass Michael Schumacher’s Ferrari appearance record next season but whereas the legendary German won 72 races and five world titles at the team, Leclerc’s victory tally stands at just eight races, while his best championship finish so far is a distant second to Red Bull’s
Max Verstappen in 2022. And while he made clear his determination to win world titles, Leclerc, who turns 29 in October said “it’s not that I had a timeline in my head” of when he wants to do it by. “I love the team. I think that’s pretty obvious from the outside,” he said. “It’s been eight years with the Formula 1 team, 10 years with Ferrari as a whole. They have been one of the first people to believe in me and to help
me get to where I am today. “And I believe in the project as a whole. With Fred [Vasseur] we have a very good relationship and I strongly believe he’s the person that will be able to bring Ferrari back to the top.” On team principal Fred Vasseur, who signed his own mulit-year contract extension last year Leclerc added: “I’m very onboard with his vision. I really believe in Fred. This is the first car he’s projected together with the team – lots of innovation
on our car and we have a long-term vision. Obviously not too long because we want to win as soon as possible. “That’s what makes me believe in this project more than ever.” ‘We have a plan’ – Leclerc has faith on Ferrari’s ability to challenge After slumping to fourth place in the Constructors’ Championship last year and failing to win a Grand Prix all season, Ferrari have made an encouraging start to F1’s new era of rules so far in 2026 although are yet
to beat Mercedes in either qualifying or a Grand Prix in five races. Leclerc, who sits third in the Drivers’ Championship three points ahead of team-mate Lewis Hamilton with two podiums apiece so far, said: “It’s been a good start to the season. Obviously not as good as we want because we want to target the World Championship but there’s been a lot of innovation on the car. “We know where we are lacking and that’s more the engine side. We have a plan coming
up and hopefully that will help us get back to where we want to be. “I love this team and believe in this project. For the reasons that’s why we are continuing together.” Sky Sports F1’s Monaco GP live schedule Friday June 510am: F3 Qualifying12pm: Monaco GP Practice One (session starts at 12.30pm)2.05pm: F2 Qualifying3pm: Team Bosses’ Press Conference3.30pm: Monaco GP Practice Two (session starts at 4pm)5.15pm: The F1 Show Saturday June 69.40am: F3 Sprint11.15am: Monaco GP Practice Three (session starts at 11.30am)1.10pm: F2 Sprint2.15pm:
Monaco GP Qualifying build-up3pm: MONACO GP QUALIFYING* Sunday June 76.50am: F3 Feature Race8.30am: F2 Feature Race10.50am: Porsche Supercup12.30pm: Monaco GP build-up: Grand Prix Sunday*2pm: THE MONACO GRAND PRIX*4pm: Monaco GP reaction: Chequered Flag* *Also on Sky Sports Main Event Watch the Monaco Grand Prix, the first of six races in eight weeks, live on Sky Sports F1 this weekend. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Scuderia Ferrari, contract extension, Monaco Grand Prix, F1 2026, Fred Vasseur, Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen, Michael Schumacher
So basically he got offered better seats elsewhere but chose Ferrari… shocker.
I don’t get why they’re renewing him if Ferrari still can’t win. Like what plan? Sounds like more PR to me.
Wait so he had “options” but won’t say who, and people are pretending that means he picked the best team? Could’ve just been he got lowballed everywhere else. 2028 at least is a long time to bet on a team that’s always “almost there.”
Ferrari always choice?? I mean it’s Monaco week so of course they announce it there. Also I saw somewhere he’d already signed till 2026, so how many contracts is this man on like back-to-back lol. End of 2028 minimum… might as well be till my retirement.