Ferrari has extended Charles Leclerc’s contract, but as has become the norm, they didn’t reveal exactly how long the new deal runs.
The team announced the agreement on Wednesday, stating only that Leclerc will be with them for “the coming seasons.” It continues a recent trend in F1 where teams are increasingly cautious about sharing contract details.
This isn’t the first time Ferrari have been unclear about contract specifics. Back when Leclerc last re-signed in 2024, they avoided giving a firm timeline then as well. The same goes for Lewis Hamilton’s deal; although it hasn’t been officially confirmed, most believe it ties him to Ferrari until 2027.
Charles Leclerc edging closer to becoming a Ferrari lifer
Back in March, during an interview with Sky Italy, Leclerc was asked if he would consider spending 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 had already confirmed that talks were underway about a new deal after expressing doubts about his future with the team. He’d made it clear that Ferrari needed to prove they could match his championship ambitions, describing it as a ‘now or never’ moment.
According to Marca, Leclerc has now agreed to what’s being called a ‘near-permanent deal’. His previous contract was already the longest in F1, reportedly running until 2029, so this new one could extend well into the 2030s.
However, Motorsport Italy has reported that Leclerc’s commitment may only cover an additional two years (2027 and 2028), though contract clauses could make this more complicated than it appears on paper.
The structure might mean Leclerc is only guaranteed for another two years but has options built in for a much longer stay. These options could be controlled by the team, the driver or both parties.
There are also likely performance-related exit clauses included to ensure both sides maintain their standards.
Leclerc will be 29 by the end of this season and if there was ever a time for him to move on, this might have been it. But now it looks increasingly likely he’ll finish his career wearing red.
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