It’s been reported by Italian media that a new contract for Charles Leclerc will be announced on Thursday, with Ferrari expected to retain the Monegasque until the end of 2025.
The report has come from Italian publication Autosprint, who are under the impression that Leclerc has put pen to paper on a new deal.
“According to rumours, tomorrow the Rossa will announce Leclerc’s contract extension,” Autosport reported.
A new deal has always been expected, given that Ferrari will remain as one of the best places to be beyond 2024, when his current deal is set to expire.
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Leclerc is very much Ferrari’s golden child, although Corriere della Sera recently reported that the 26-year-old has informed his entourage that he’s unsure whether becoming World Champion with the Italians is possible.
There are certainly very conflicting reports in Italy regarding Leclerc’s future, with some stating that a new deal is done, whilst others are under the impression that it’s not a straightforward decision.
If a decision is yet to be made by Leclerc, then last weekend’s Brazilian Grand Prix won’t have helped.
Leclerc embarrassingly retired from the race before it even got underway, after crashing on the formation lap.
The Ferrari driver span into the barrier on the outside of Turns 6 and 7 following a reported hydraulics issue, which locked-up his rear wheels.
Leclerc also lost power-steering in the process, leaving him completely helpless.
It meant that instead of starting the race from second, he watched it from a grass bank.
His retirement could prove to be hugely costly for Ferrari in the Constructors’ Championship, given how poor Mercedes were at Interlagos.
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Lewis Hamilton was the only Mercedes driver to finish the race but he was all the way down in P8.
Leclerc would’ve definitely finished above the seven-time World Champion, which would’ve helped the Italians significantly decrease the Silver Arrows’ advantage in the fight for second in the Constructors’ Championship.
With two races remaining, Mercedes hold a 20-point lead over Ferrari in the battle for P2, in what is a deficit the Maranello-based side can certainly overcome if they avoid any issues in Las Vegas and Abu Dhabi.