Charles Leclerc has signed a Formula One contract extension with Ferrari, keeping him at the team for “several more seasons”.The 28-year-old has won eight Grands Prix across nine seasons for Ferrari, having initially joined the joined the Ferrari Driver Academy in 2016. He had last renewed his deal in 2024.Leclerc said he “couldn’t be happier” to stay with Ferrari.“It’s the team I’ve loved and dreamt of being part of since I was a child, and after all these years it has become a second family,” he said upon renewing his deal.“Together we’ve shared incredible moments and some tougher ones, but I believe in this team more than ever, and I’m deeply grateful that we will keep pushing side by side toward our shared goal of bringing the World Championship back to Maranello.”‘The chosen one’ shows faith in Ferrari projectAt the end of last year, Leclerc indicated that 2026 could be big for his Ferrari future.The overhaul of F1’s car design rules opened up a new window of opportunity for Ferrari to try and return to the very front, having only enjoyed fleeting moments of race-winning potential in recent years. Leclerc has often been the one to spearhead its efforts, but at 28 and very much in his prime to win a world championship, Leclerc was eager to see Ferrari show that may be possible in the coming rules cycles.Just five races into the season, Leclerc’s renewal signals that he’s seen enough to keep him convinced by the Ferrari project. The team hasn’t enjoyed the kind of searing start of Mercedes, yet it has been lurking in the mix behind F1’s new dominant force, and is expected to be a real threat for the win in Monaco this weekend. The street track is one that should reward Ferrari’s impressive car design and make its engine power deficit to Mercedes less decisive.Ferrari has been Leclerc’s entire F1 life. He graduated from its driver academy and moved into F1 in 2018 with Sauber, its affiliated team, before getting the nod to step up to race for the Scuderia aged just 21 the following year. His potential earned him the nickname from the Italian media of ‘Il Predestinato’ — ‘the chosen one’.Locking in Leclerc for another few years — “the coming seasons” being a classic, vague timeline offered by F1 teams when announcing new contracts — gives Ferrari stability and ensures it retains one of the quickest drivers on the grid. Lewis Hamilton may have gained the eyeballs with his blockbuster move for 2025, but now 41, he is not going to be the long-term future for Ferrari.Leclerc will be, and was always the driver it needed to ensure kept believing in its project as it works to end a championship drought dating back to 2008.Jun 3, 2026Connections: Sports EditionSpot the pattern. Connect the termsFind the hidden link between sports terms