Just ahead of the most anticipated weekend of the season for Charles Leclerc, Ferrari officially confirmed its intention to continue the journey with its long-term star. The contract extension announced on the eve of the Monaco Grand Prix sent a clear message of mutual trust and commitment between the Scuderia and one of the drivers who has become synonymous with the team in recent years.
The timing of the announcement made the moment even more meaningful. For Charles Leclerc, Monaco is not just another stop on the Formula 1 calendar; it is home. It is the city where he was born, where he grew up and where some of the most emotional moments of his career have taken place.
Speaking to Sky Sport F1, Ferrari vice chairman Piero Ferrari highlighted the significance of revealing the agreement ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix weekend: “We renewed his contract before Monte Carlo. It is his city, his country, where he was born, so it is a beautiful occasion,” he said. “I am very happy.”
However, Piero Ferrari’s comments went beyond the contract itself, offering a glimpse into a relationship that has been built over many years. His connection with Charles Leclerc did not begin when the Monegasque driver reached Formula 1, nor when he joined Ferrari. Instead, it stretches back to the early stages of Leclerc’s career, long before he became a Grand Prix winner.
The son of Enzo Ferrari explained that he had been following Charles Leclerc’s progress since his junior racing days and had witnessed some of the milestones that marked his rise through the motorsport ranks: “I have followed Charles since he was in Formula 3,” Piero Ferrari recalled. “I was there for his first victory at Monza.”
Having watched that development from close quarters, it is perhaps no surprise that the relationship between the two has evolved into something deeper than the traditional connection between a team executive and a driver: “There is a special feeling with Charles, and I hope we can give him great satisfaction,” he added.
Those words may carry particular weight at a time when Charles Leclerc has once again committed his future to Ferrari despite several seasons of ups and downs. The Monegasque driver has repeatedly expressed his belief in the Maranello project, and the latest contract extension reinforces that long-term commitment.
Piero Ferrari was also asked what first convinced him that Charles Leclerc possessed the qualities required to become a top-level driver. Interestingly, his answer focused less on technical details and more on the effortless way the Ferrari driver expresses his talent behind the wheel: “He convinced me because he does everything very naturally,” he explained. “Clearly, he has great instinct, great qualities and great reflexes. Technically, I do not know exactly what it is, but he does everything very easily.”
It is a description that perfectly reflects one of the characteristics many observers have long associated with Charles Leclerc: the ability to extract extraordinary speed while making it appear almost effortless. Even today, when asked what continues to impress him most about the Ferrari driver, Piero Ferrari’s answer remains remarkably simple: “It is beautiful to see how fast he is.”
With Charles Leclerc now committed to Ferrari for the long term, the message from Maranello is clear. The Scuderia believes in its homegrown star, values the relationship built over more than a decade and understands that after years of loyalty, the responsibility now lies with Ferrari to provide the car capable of delivering the success both driver and team have been chasing.
Leave a Reply