Has Leclerc already signed new Ferrari contract?

Leclerc is said to have signed a new contract that commits him to Ferrari for a maximum of five more seasons. The 2024 and 2025 seasons are definite, with a so-called option in the contract for the three seasons after that. This is because Leclerc wants to keep his options open to race for another formation from 2026, when the regulations will be significantly changed again.

According to the aforementioned medium, the 25-year-old driver's entourage has been probing the paddock for some time and talks have been held with Mercedes, Aston Martin, Alpine and even Red Bull. The outcome of those talks is not known, but it is clear that it has only stopped at soundings.

So what's in the deal for Ferrari? Firstly, Leclerc will continue to drive at Ferrari for one more season than before this new contract anyway. That options have been included in the commitment for 2026, 2027 and 2028 is a signal from Ferrari to Leclerc that they see it in him and thus want to motivate him to stay with the team for the longer term.

The deal is rumoured to involve €185 million. The longer Leclerc stays, the more he will earn. In 2024, he would start with an annual salary of 20 million, but in the final year of his contract, the fee could rise to 50 million.