Charles Leclerc has confirmed he rejected approaches from rival Formula 1 teams before committing his long-term future to Ferrari with a new multi-year contract.
The Monegasque driver, speaking at a press conference on Thursday ahead of his home Monaco Grand Prix, declined to identify which teams had expressed interest in signing him.
"There were, yes," Leclerc said of the rival offers. "I'm not going to say who — they can say it if they want. For me, Ferrari was always the choice."
The 28-year-old emphasised that securing a world championship whilst wearing Ferrari red carries special significance for him personally.
Charles Leclerc admitted that he turned down approaches from F1 rivals before penning a new contract at Ferrari
|REUTERS
"Winning in red for me has got a very unique feeling," he added.
The fresh agreement, revealed on Wednesday prior to this weekend's race in the principality, prolongs an association with the Maranello outfit that stretches back a full decade to when Leclerc first joined Ferrari's driver academy.
According to reports, the deal makes him the driver with the longest contract on the current grid, with suggestions it could extend beyond 2029.
His earnings are also understood to have risen substantially, with his new salary reportedly reaching approximately €50 million per year.
This figure brings him closer to teammate Lewis Hamilton's reported €68 million annual package, meaning Ferrari is now said to be paying its driver pairing in excess of $100 million combined each season.
Leclerc explained that his decision stemmed from genuine affection for the Scuderia and conviction in its direction.
Charles Leclerc currently sits third in the drivers' standings
| REUTERS"I love the team, I think that's pretty obvious from the outside," he said.
"It's been eight years with the F1 team, 10 years with Ferrari as a whole. They've been some of the first people to believe in me and to help me get to where I am today."
His relationship with team principal Fred Vasseur proved instrumental in the decision.
"I believe in the project most of all. With Fred, we have a very, very good relationship and I strongly believe that he is the person who will be able to bring Ferrari back to the top," Leclerc stated.
Kimi Antonelli is running away with the championship currently
| REUTERSDespite remaining without a championship after seven complete seasons in Formula 1, Leclerc dismissed concerns about potentially wasting his prime years on a project that might not deliver success, noting he still considers himself young.
Mercedes has dominated the opening rounds of the 2026 campaign, claiming victory in all five races so far, with Kimi Antonelli winning the most recent four.
Leclerc sits third in the drivers' standings but fancies his chances on home soil.
"If there's one track I will bet on on us, it's probably Monaco," said the 2024 Monaco Grand Prix winner, whilst acknowledging Mercedes retain a considerable performance advantage.