F1: Leclerc Set For Ferrari Contract Extension Till 2026

In 2019 when Charles Leclerc arrived at Ferrari from Sauber, it had become pretty clear that he was the anointed king waiting at Maranello. That notion was further ratified when he was handed a 5-year contract, something which wasn't even offered to Michael Schumacher. Now comes a report which states that Leclerc could be further handed a two-year extension from his 2024 contract which would mean he stays at Ferrari till 2026. The report about the 23-year-old comes from Resto del Carlino. 

"It is nice to know Charles has confidentially expressed the desire to extend the contract that binds him to Ferrari until the end of 2026. The current agreement expires in 2024. Given that, with an understatement, I could define the current performance of the red car as less than exciting, Leclerc evidently believes the conditions are right for him to realise his big dream, to become champion with the Prancing Horse. We'll see," the report said. 

Leclerc has been in stellar form despite a Ferrari that's not able enough for race wins 

Leclerc has often said he is not averse to the idea of spending his entire F1 career at the Prancing Horse. He has been nurtured by Ferrari as he's been a star prodigy of the driver academy at Maranello having won the F3 and F2 titles before his rise to F1 where in his first three years he has demolished teammates including 4-time world champion Sebastian Vettel who eventually left the team to join Aston Martin in 2021. 

Leclerc has 9 pole positions and two race wins with the Italian team 

Vettel also described Leclerc as the most gifted young driver in F1 and his new teammate Carlos Sainz Jr is also finding out the same. Ferrari has also backed Leclerc's younger brother Arthur Leclerc who drives in F3 currently. Leclerc himself found himself in the care of Ferrari after his godfather Jules Bianchi passed away after a horrific crash at Suzuka in 2014. Bianchi was earmarked for a Ferrari drive which never happened. 

Leclerc has been described as a future world champion by many and is known to be one of the toughest drivers on the grid.