Ferrari said Monday that they
have signed a new contract with Charles Leclerc that will keep
the driver at the Formula One team until the 2024 season.
The 22-year-old from Monaco made a big impact in his debut
season at Ferrari this year after joining the Italian glamour
team from satellite outfit Alfa Romeo-Sauber.
He notched his first Formula One victory in Belgium in
September and followed that up by ending Ferrari's
nine-year dry run at the Italian Grand Prix at Monza.
He also outshone his team mate, Sebastian Vettel, coming
fourth in the driver's championship while Germany's four-time
world champion came fifth.
"I am very happy to be staying on with Scuderia Ferrari,"
said Leclerc, who came through the ranks of the Ferrari Driver
Academy, which he joined in 2016.
"This past season, driving for the most illustrious team in
Formula 1 has been a dream year for me.
"I cannot wait to enjoy an even deeper relationship with the
team after what has been an intense and exciting 2019.
"I'm keen to see what the future holds and I can't wait to
get going again next season".
Ferrari Team Principal Mattia Binotto expressed satisfaction
too.
"With each passing race this year, our wish to extend our
contract with Charles became ever more self-evident and the
decision means he will now be with us for the next five
seasons," Binotto said.
"It demonstrates that Charles and the Scuderia have a firm
future together.
"Charles has been part of our family since 2016 and we are
more than proud of the results we are achieving with our
Academy.
"We are therefore very pleased to be able to announce that he
will be with us for many years to come and I'm sure that
together, we will write many new pages in the history of the
Prancing Horse".
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