Charles Leclerc Breaks Michael Schumacher's Record; Signs Long-Term Deal With Ferrari

Charles Leclerc has extended a long-term contract with Ferrari, confirming that the partnership continues for the “coming seasons”. The agreement secures Leclerc’s future in red beyond the current deal and underlines a relationship that began with the Ferrari Driver Academy in 2016, with Leclerc now central to the Scuderia’s Formula 1 plans.

The new arrangement follows Leclerc’s previous multi-year agreement signed in 2024 and is announced ahead of Leclerc’s home Grand Prix in Monaco. Ferrari states that the fresh contract keeps the 28-year-old Monegasque racing for the team for the “coming seasons”, maintaining stability at the top of its driver line-up.

Charles Leclerc Ferrari contract and long-term future

Leclerc’s extended stay means a significant statistical landmark is approaching, as Leclerc is on course to overhaul Michael Schumacher’s record for Ferrari race starts. Leclerc currently has 155 Grands Prix for the Scuderia, second on the team list, while Schumacher leads with 179 starts. With the calendar now featuring 24 races, the gap could close within a few seasons.

Another Schumacher benchmark remains in Leclerc’s sights, though that target looks tougher. Leclerc has taken 27 pole positions for Ferrari, which places Leclerc second on the team’s all-time pole list. Schumacher leads comfortably with 58 poles for Ferrari, leaving Leclerc with a sizeable margin to chase over future campaigns.

Charles Leclerc Ferrari journey and achievements

Leclerc’s progression with Ferrari has followed a rapid and structured route. Leclerc joined the Ferrari Driver Academy in 2016, then claimed the Formula 2 title in 2017. Leclerc moved into Formula 1 with Sauber in 2018, before stepping up to Ferrari’s race seat in 2019. Since then, Leclerc has earned 52 podium finishes and eight Grand Prix victories.

Despite those results, the ultimate goal remains out of reach for now. Leclerc is still targeting a first Formula 1 drivers’ crown with Ferrari. The team has not celebrated a drivers’ title since 2007, when Kimi Raikkonen became champion. Leclerc’s new contract signals a shared intention to end that long wait together.

Charles Leclerc Ferrari reaction to new deal

The emotional bond between Leclerc and Ferrari is central to the agreement, with Leclerc describing the team as more than an employer. Leclerc explains that the squad has become a second family and that belief in the project is stronger than ever as both parties chase future championships together.

"I couldn't be happier to continue this journey with Scuderia Ferrari HP," Leclerc said on the latest deal.

"It has always been so much more than just a team to me. 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. 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.

"Being a Ferrari driver is a dream, but it's also a responsibility I never take for granted. I'll continue to give absolutely everything I have to bring this team back to where it belongs, at the very top, for everyone in Maranello, and above all for the tifosi, whose passion is the heartbeat of this Scuderia."

The timing of the deal also ties in with Leclerc’s strong connection to Monaco. Leclerc arrives at the 2024 Monaco Grand Prix as a past winner of the famous street race, having triumphed earlier in the 2024 season. Leclerc has also taken pole position in Monaco three times within the past six years.

Leclerc’s renewed commitment and Ferrari’s faith leave both parties aligned on a clear target. Records for race starts and poles with Ferrari are within reach for Leclerc over the “coming seasons”, while the shared ambition remains to secure a first world title together and end Ferrari’s drivers’ championship drought stretching back to Kimi Raikkonen’s 2007 success.