Charles Leclerc is set to remain at Ferrari after penning a new deal with the Italian squad, according to a report.
Leclerc joined Ferrari in 2019, one year after he made his F1 debut with Sauber.
The Monegasque driver has enjoyed moderate success at the team, scoring five race wins and 27 podiums so far during his career.
However, Ferrari’s inability to fight for the World Championship over the last several seasons led to suggestions that Leclerc could seek a drive elsewhere on the grid when his current deal expires at the end of 2024.
But according to Sportune, Leclerc has now sealed a new contract that commits him to Ferrari for the next five years.
The report says that it is structured as a two-year deal with the option to extend until the end of 2029.
It is also stated that the contract would be worth £160 million in total, meaning Leclerc would take in £32m per year – a figure that could be raised to £43m by 2029.
Should the report be correct, it would mean that Leclerc would have the longest contract on the grid, surpassing Max Verstappen’s deal that expires at the end of 2028.
Ferrari boss Frederic Vasseur reportedly met with the agents of both drivers at the end of June, with Leclerc’s side progressing faster than Carlos Sainz’s.
However, it is also mentioned in the report that Leclerc sought conversations with other teams including Mercedes, Aston Martin and Alpine regarding his future.
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