The news of Charles Leclerc’s renewal with Scuderia Ferrari is a bit of an open secret: the driver has repeatedly expressed the desire to continue in Maranello, pursuing the dream of becoming a Formula 1 world champion.
Additionally, despite the Monegasque’s considerable talent, there are currently no available seats in the top teams. Although his contract expires this year, there has been no official announcement on the extension for now, leaving several question marks.
The most significant one is the duration: some sources report a five-year agreement, while others mention a three-year deal with a possible extension to five. In a recent live stream on his Twitch channel, Italian journalist and motorsport expert Roberto Chinchero aimed to clarify some doubts:
“The reason for the delay, as Fred Vasseur mentioned, is that things got messy. They returned from Abu Dhabi in December, and there are many negotiations there. First, there’s a meeting, then the parties go their separate ways and each talks with their entourage. Then there’s a second meeting, discussions take place, so it takes a bit of time. I’ve always believed that there would be a three-year renewal for Charles, even though Gazzetta reported it could be for five years, which could also make sense. But when Verstappen announced the extension until 2028, there was talk of a possible ‘salary cap,’ a maximum limit for drivers’ salaries. In doing so, Red Bull might have wanted to protect itself from the new law, which wouldn’t be retroactive. Then the discussion fell through. But it’s also possible that number 16 stays for five years. Honestly, today there’s no other way for the Monegasque: Charles Leclerc needs Ferrari, and Ferrari needs Charles Leclerc,” said the Italian journalist.
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