Ferrari has confirmed the renewal of Charles Leclerc for five more years until the end of 2024. With this move, the Italian team has rewarded the outstanding performance of the young Monegasque this season of  Formula 1, as well as locking his future down to that of La Scuderia. 

This renewal constitutes the ultimate lift for the career of #16, who consolidates his position within the Italian team. As it is to be expected, the agreement comes with a considerable rise on Leclerc’s paycheck. 

The Italian newspaper ‘Corriere de la Sera’ has leaked the rumour that the Monegasque will be taking home approximately nine euros per season from now on.  If that figure is correct, Leclerc would have tripled his wages with the Prancing Horse comparing to last year (2019), for which he only received 3 million euros. 

Leclerc and Ferrari delighted with their deal

“I am very happy to be staying on with Scuderia Ferrari. This past season, driving for the most illustrious team in Formula One 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.” – Declared an exultant Charles Leclerc after signing his renewal. 

Team principal Mattia Binotto has also expressed his satisfaction with the deal on behalf of the team:

“With each passing race this year, our wish to extend our contract with Charles became ever more self-evident. It demonstrates that Charles and the Scuderia have a firm future together”.

“Charles has been part of our family since 2016 and we are tremendously proud of the results of our Academy. So we are delighted to announce that (Leclerc) will stay 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.” 

Before this deal was finalized, Charles partnership with Ferrari was based on the standard contract that new drivers sign with the Ferrari Driver Academy. It is because of that that his wages were not as high as you would expect from an official Formula 1 driver within the most successful team in history. 

The operation was negotiated by Nicolas Todt (son of Jean Todt), Charles Leclerc’s agent and judging by Binotto’s latest praise for his star student, it was just a matter of time for them to come to an agreement. 

Mattia Binotto, the Swiss director of Ferrari, has also declared:

“We knew he was going to be fast (in 2019), but were still surprised by such a performance. It is an investment for the future”.  

Charles has shined on the track every weekend in what has been a sensational campaign. After being the fastest driver of the grid on seven Saturdays during the season, he has earned himself the title of poleman of the year. 

During the past season, he has also sealed his two first F1 victories at the Italian and Belgian Grand Prix as well as taking four podiums and ten fastest laps. Beyond the numbers, however, his greatest achievement has been to outperform his supposed head of ranks, questioning his leadership within the team. 

The champion from Heppenheim, disconcerted by Charles performance, has had one of the worse seasons in many years, his dreadful mistakes becoming commonplace during the season. In his state, the German veteran has only manged two poles, one win and 24 points less than his 22-year-old teammate and has finished one place behind him in the standings.

Images of Charles Leclerc: Scuderia Ferrari.