Charles Leclerc signs new Ferrari contract
Charles Leclerc will race for Ferrari beyond 2024 after agreeing a contract extension with the Italian giants.
The driver lineup remains unchanged across the entire F1 grid going into the 2024 season, however, there had been speculation on whether Leclerc would continue with Ferrari beyond the upcoming season with a potential opening at Red Bull in 2025 very much a possibility. The Monegasque driver has now put any speculation of that to bed with a new deal - terms of which have yet to be specified.
Leclerc originally joined the Ferrari Driver Academy in 2016 before starting in F1 with Sauber two years later. In 2019 he joined Scuderia Ferrari and has scored five race wins, 30 podium finishes and claimed 23 pole positions.
Commenting on the contract announcement, Leclerc said: “I believe the best is yet to come and I can’t wait for this season to start, to make further progress and be competitive at every race. My dream remains that of winning the World Championship with Ferrari and I’m sure that in the years ahead, we will enjoy great times together and make our fans happy.”
Ferrari’s last title win in the drivers’ championship came in 2007 with Kimi Räikkönen, while its last constructors’ title was in 2008.
Alpha Tauri changes name to Visa Cash App RB Formula One Team for 2024
For the second time in four years, the second F1 team of Red Bull has changed its name, as Scuderia Alpha Tauri becomes Visa Cash App RB Formula One Team.
Digital and mobile payment network, Visa, and money/crypto exchanging platform, Cash App, merge to form the new name in what is something of a mouthful. Our first glimpse at the livery for the newly named team will take place at an event in Las Vegas on February 8th.
Red Bull’s second team has usually existed as a proving ground for young drivers to test themselves at the highest level of the sport, with former names including Sebastian Vettel, Max Verstappen and current driver, Daniel Ricciardo. However, according to Visa Cash App RB CEO Peter Bayer, the aim is now for the team to compete for the “biggest prizes in F1.”
Yuki Tsunoda will race alongside Ricciardo in an unchanged lineup in 2024 as Visa Cash App RB Formula One Team aims to improve on an eighth place finish in last season’s constructors’ championship.
The 2024 Formula One season begins with the Bahrain Grand Prix on March 2nd.
words: Mike Booth
pictures: Ferrari North Europe & Red Bull