Charles Leclerc has revealed he had options elsewhere on the grid before signing a new contract with Ferrari, but said he firmly believes in the Italian giants’ “plan” to finally return to the front of F1.
Ferrari announced a new deal for long-serving Leclerc on Wednesday ahead of the driver’s home Monaco Grand Prix.
Although no specific details on the duration of the deal were released by the team and there are conflicting reports on how long it will run for, the extension is believed to have been for at least two years and ties him to Ferrari until the end of the 2028 season, at a minimum.
Leclerc’s immediate future at the Scuderia had not been in doubt when he signed what was then believed to be a multi-year deal beyond 2026 two years ago, but news of the latest extension serves as a further sign of the driver and team’s faith in each other, just months into the sport’s new era of rules.
And asked in Monaco on Thursday if he had had alternative options elsewhere on the grid, Leclerc said: “There was, yes.
“I won’t say [who].
“They can say that if they want, but for me Ferrari was always the choice.”
Leclerc was 18 years old when he first joined Ferrari as an academic in 2016 and graduated to an F1 race seat with them in 2019 after spending an initial year on loan at Sauber.
The Monegasque is set to surpass Michael Schumacher’s Ferrari record next season, but while the legendary German won 72 races and five world titles with the team, Leclerc’s win tally stands at just eight races, while his best championship finish so far is a distant second to Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in 2022.
And while making his determination to win world titles clear, Leclerc, who turns 29 in October, said “it’s not that I had a timeline in my head” of when he will do it.
“I love the team. I think it’s pretty obvious from the outside,” he said.
“It’s been eight years with the Formula One team, 10 years with Ferrari as a whole. They’ve been one of the first people to believe in me and help me get to where I am today.
“And I believe in the project as a whole. With Fred [Vasseur] we have a very good relationship and I strongly believe that he is the person who will be able to bring Ferrari back to the top.”
Of team principal Fred Vasseur, who signed his own multi-year contract extension last year, Leclerc added: “I’m very much on board with his vision. I really believe in Fred. This is the first car he’s designed with the team – lots of innovation on our car and we have a long-term vision. Of course not too long, because we want to win as soon as possible.
“That’s what makes me believe in this project more than ever.”
‘We have a plan’ – Leclerc has faith in Ferrari’s ability to challenge
After falling to fourth in the Constructors’ Championship last year and failing to win a Grand Prix all season, Ferrari have made an encouraging start to F1’s new era of rules so far in 2026, although they are yet to beat Mercedes in either qualifying or a Grand Prix in five races.
Leclerc, who is third in the Drivers’ Championship three points ahead of team-mate Lewis Hamilton with two podiums apiece so far, said: “It’s been a good start to the season. It’s obviously not as good as we want because we want to target the world championship, but there’s been a lot of innovation on the car.
“We know where we’re lacking and that’s more the engine side. We have a plan in place and hopefully that will help us get back to where we want to be.
“I love this team and believe in this project. For the reasons that are why we continue together.”
Sky Sports F1’s Monaco GP live programme
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Martin Brundle guesses who said those iconic Monaco Grand Prix radio messages
Friday, June 5
10:00: F3 qualifying
12:00: Monaco GP Practice One (session starts at 12:30)
14.05: F2 qualification
15:00: Team managers’ press conference
15.30: Monaco GP Practice Two (session starts at 16.00)
17.15: The F1 show
Saturday 6 June
9.40am: F3 Sprint
11.15: Monaco GP Practice Three (session starts at 11.30)
13.10: F2 Sprint
14.15: Monaco GP qualifying build-up
15:00: MONACO GP QUALIFYING*
Sunday, June 7
6.50: F3 Feature Race
8.30: F2 Feature Race
10.50: Porsche Supercup
12.30: Monaco GP build-up: Grand Prix Sunday*
14:00: MONACO GRAND PRIX*
16:00: Monaco GP reaction: Checkered flag*
*Also on Sky Sports Main Event
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