Following the unexpected announcement of Charles Leclerc’s contract extension with Scuderia Ferrari, Team Principal Frédéric Vasseur has shared his thoughts on the deal.
Charles Leclerc’s situation at Ferrari has always been a hot topic of discussion: a driver of undeniable talent behind the wheel of cars that have rarely been the benchmark of the field. On the morning of Wednesday, June 3, Leclerc and Ferrari themselves put all speculation to rest by announcing a contract extension—his previous deal was set to expire in 2029—that appears to cement the bond between the Monegasque driver and the Prancing Horse for the long term. Shortly after the official announcement, Team Principal Frédéric Vasseur commented on the renewal in Ferrari’s official press release.
A true love story
Leclerc has never hidden his love for Ferrari, often admitting that his dream is to win a World Championship with the Scuderia rather than elsewhere. The bond is deep and long-lasting, just as his relationship with Vasseur dates back many years. The Frenchman first worked with the Monegasque driver during the GP3 era (now Formula 3), when Leclerc raced for ART Grand Prix in 2016, a team founded by Vasseur and Nicolas Todt, who today serves as Leclerc’s manager.
““Over these seasons, we have seen not only one of Formula 1’s strongest drivers grow, – said Vasseur -, but also a person who deeply lives the connection with this team and everything Ferrari represents,”Love for racing, passion, dedication, determination, and talent are just some of the values that connect the 1997-born driver and the Maranello team—through what is, fittingly, a red thread. The Ferrari Team Principal added:“We appreciate his talent, we love his determination, and the way he approaches every day alongside the people in the team, both on and off the track.”“.
A Natural Continuation
Vasseur did not hide the fact that the contract extension felt like a natural step for both parts: “Charles has been part of the Ferrari family for many years now, and this renewal is something very natural for us.”
Leclerc and Ferrari will therefore continue their pursuit of the World Championship title that has eluded the Scuderia since 2007: “We know how much this project means to him, and we are happy to continue working together to achieve the goals we share.”
Photos: Ferrari.com
