Ferrari Extends Charles Leclerc's Contract, But Will They Ever Achieve a Championship?

      Ferrari announced this morning that it is extending Charles Leclerc's contract for "the coming seasons" in a somewhat surprising new multi-year deal. This surprise isn't due to any speculation that Leclerc would leave his comfortable position at Maranello, but rather because few have been closely monitoring the status of his contract, unlike with other top Formula 1 drivers in leading teams.

      Why is that? It seems that after seven years together (or ten if you consider Leclerc's time in the Ferrari driver academy), both parties have acknowledged each other's differences and shortcomings, and have appeared to reach a point of stability, hoping for better outcomes in the future.

      "I couldn’t be happier to continue this journey with Scuderia Ferrari HP," Leclerc commented on the announcement. "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 tough times, but I believe in this team more than ever, and I’m deeply grateful that we will continue to push side by side toward our shared goal of bringing the World Championship back to Maranello," he added.

      However, there’s a notable aspect to consider. Throughout their long and tumultuous relationship—the second-longest tenure after Michael Schumacher—Leclerc has secured only eight wins. He has stood on the podium 52 times and achieved an impressive 27 pole positions. He finished second in the Drivers’ World Championship in 2022, third in 2024, and fourth in 2019, but has never gained the momentum (or team backing) to truly contend for the championship.

      Will 2026 and the near future bring any changes? Currently, Ferrari is in second place in the constructors’ championship, yet they are a significant 72 points behind the leading team, Mercedes. Regarding Leclerc, he is in third place in the drivers’ championship, 13 points behind George Russell and 56 points behind leader Kimi Antonelli. His teammate Lewis Hamilton is just three points behind Leclerc, and considering his recent second place in Canada and strong performance, the seven-time champion will likely be putting pressure on Leclerc to perform.

      Unfortunately, as it stands, the answer to the headline question seems to be a definitive "no." This isn't indicative of Leclerc's driving ability, but rather reflects Ferrari's lack of the mindset, stability, and operational strength necessary to support either of its drivers in a championship fight. This is in stark contrast to the performance of Mercedes, McLaren, and particularly Red Bull in recent years.

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