Calado Signs Multi-Year Ferrari Contract Extension

James Calado has signed a new, multi-year contract extension with Ferrari as the Prancing Horse retains one of its longest-tenured and most successful drivers.

The British racer has been aligned with Ferrari since 2014, when he joined its FIA World Endurance Championship GTE-Pro lineup after transitioning away from single-seater racing.

He went on to take three GTE-Pro world titles and two 24 Hours of Le Mans class victories before he stepped up to join Ferrari’s factory Hypercar operation in 2023.

In the program’s first year, Calado, Alessandro Pier Guidi and Antonio Giovinazzi took Ferrari’s first overall Le Mans win since 1965.

He also currently leads the Hypercar drivers’ standings with one round remaining in this year’s WEC season, while his accomplishments outside of the world championship include a GTD Pro class victory in last year’s Rolex 24 at Daytona.

Calado’s future at Ferrari was the topic of some speculation in recent months, although the 36-year-old always expressed a desire to continue his relationship with the Italian manufacturer.

“I’m delighted to remain in the Ferrari family as an official driver,” Calado said.

“I’ve achieved many successes with the Prancing Horse in recent years and I’m convinced that together we can pass some big chequered flags in the future as well.

“There’s recently been a lot of speculation about what I was going to do in the future. In reality, all I wanted was to keep on competing for Ferrari.

“Now we’re crossing our fingers because in a few days we’ll be in Bahrain for the last round of the FIA WEC, aiming to achieve our dreams of becoming world champions.”

Calado is the third Hypercar driver to have his Ferrari contract extended this year, following on from Giovinazzi in July and Nicklas Nielsen last month.

“The contract extension represents continuity: we take great satisfaction in pursuing a professional journey with James, who over the last 11 years has enabled us to achieve many titles and successes of particular importance, among which I’d like to recall victory at the Centenary 24 Hours of Le Mans, in 2023,” added Antonello Coletta, Ferrari’s global head of endurance.

“So it’s an honor to be able to keep counting on James’s contribution, a driver who’s a fully fledged member of the Ferrari family.”