Charles Leclerc dropped telling ‘lifetime contract’ hint before signing new Ferrari deal

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Ferrari announced a new deal for Charles Leclerc on Wednesday, but didn’t specify the exact length of the contract.

Ferrari’s statement simply says Leclerc, who joined the team in 2019, will continue for the ‘coming seasons’. Teams have become increasingly secretive about contract durations.

Indeed, the Scuderia were similarly vague the last time Leclerc extended his deal in 2024, and they have never confirmed exactly how long Lewis Hamilton’s contract is, though the consensus is that it runs until the end of 2027.

What are your thoughts on Charles Leclerc signing a new Ferrari contract?

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Charles Leclerc is becoming a ‘near-permanent’ Ferrari driver

During an interview with Sky Italy in March, Leclerc was asked whether he would pledge to spend his entire career at Ferrari.

“A lifetime contract? I don’t know if that has ever been done,” he replied. “But we are definitely talking about it.”

Leclerc effectively confirmed that he was talking to Ferrari about a new deal after a period of doubt about his future. The Monegasque had warned that it was ‘now or never’ for the team to prove they could meet his championship ambitions.

After signing a new deal, will Charles Leclerc retire as a Ferrari driver?

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According to Marca, Leclerc has now signed a ‘near-permanent deal’. He was already on the longest contract in Formula 1, which reportedly ran until 2029, so it’s feasible that the new agreement runs into the 2030s.

It’s worth noting that Motorsport Italy suggest Leclerc may only have committed for an additional two years (i.e. 2027 and 2028), but this is where clauses complicate matters.

• READ MORE: F1 fans all say the same thing as Ferrari announce Charles Leclerc has signed a new contract

It may be that Leclerc is only guaranteed to race for Ferrari for another two years, but there are extension options to facilitate a much longer partnership. These may be controlled by the team, the driver or both.

On the flip side, there are likely to be performance-related exit clauses at play, forcing both sides to maintain a high standard.

Leclerc turns 29 at the end of this season and, if there was a moment where he was going to leave, this was likely it. There’s now an increasing chance that he retires as a Ferrari driver.