Born in the Mediterranean idyll of Monaco, Leclerc arrived in F1 on a tidal wave of expectation.
Practically peerless on his way to the GP3 and Formula 2 crowns, he showcased a dazzling array of skills from scorching pole positions, commanding victories – even when his car caught fire twice at Silverstone – to an ability to muscle his way through the pack. Winning back-to-back championships also taught Leclerc how to handle pressure, another useful tool in the big pond of Formula 1 racing.
Stepping up to F1 in 2018, Leclerc showed flashes of ballistic pace on Saturdays and racing brilliance on Sundays, dragging his Sauber beyond its limits – and earning himself a money-can’t-buy race seat at Ferrari for 2019, stepping into the shoes of the Scuderia’s last world champion, Kimi Raikkonen.
There he immediately put the cat among the proverbial pigeons, unafraid to go wheel-to-wheel with established number one, Sebastian Vettel. A maiden F1 victory at Spa was followed by another a week later on Ferrari’s hallowed home turf of Monza. The tifosi had found another new hero – who then became the first man to out-score Vettel over a season with the Scuderia, a feat he repeated in crushing fashion the following year.
The 2020 and ’21 seasons bore little fruit for Ferrari, but Leclerc maintained his resolve to emerge a true title contender in 2022. With three wins, 11 podiums and nine pole positions, he was the only man able to consistently take the fight to champion Max Verstappen - a feat he and the Scuderia were sadly unable to repeat in 2023.
Out of the car, Leclerc is modest and thoughtful - but then he is on his own very personal mission. This exciting young talent is racing for his late father Herve and his friend and mentor Jules Bianchi, the F1 driver who died in 2015.
On the evidence so far, he is doing them both proud.
FAQs
1 - Michael Schumacher. Michael Schumacher stands as the epitome of Ferrari's modern era dominance, securing an unprecedented five consecutive World Championships from 1996 to 2006. With an astounding 72 wins for the Scuderia Ferrari, Schumacher's legacy as Ferrari's most successful representative is unmatched.
How much does Charles Leclerc make with Ferrari? ›
Highest-Paid Drivers for 2024
| Rank | Driver | Compensation |
|---|
| 3 | Charles Leclerc | $34 million |
| 4 | Lando Norris | $20 million |
| T-5 | George Russell | $18 million |
| T-5 | Fernando Alonso | $18 million |
6 more rowsApr 16, 2024
"Charles' bond to the Scuderia goes beyond that of just a driver and a team, as he has been part of the Ferrari family for eight years now," said Ferrari's French boss Fred Vasseur. "His values and those of our team are intertwined and so it was natural for us to be in agreement on extending our collaboration.
Who drove for Ferrari before Leclerc? ›
Scuderia Ferrari signed Leclerc for the 2019 season, replacing 2007 World Champion Kimi Räikkönen, who took his place at Sauber (which later rebranded to Alfa Romeo).
Who is Ferrari #1 driver? ›
Charles Leclerc - F1 Driver for Ferrari.
Who is the most followed Formula 1 driver? ›
Most Followed Formula 1 Drivers on Instagram
- Lewis Hamilton: 35.5 million followers.
- Charles Leclerc: 13.2 million.
- Max Verstappen: 11 million.
- Daniel Ricciardo: 8.9 million.
- Carlos Sainz Jr.: 8.2 million.
- Lando Norris: 7.2 million.
- Sergio Pérez: 6.5 million.
- George Russell: 4.9 million.
It is often said that Charles Leclerc is the better driver at Ferrari, as he has generally beaten Sainz more often since the two drivers have been teammates.
How good is Charles Leclerc? ›
Leclerc is the only driver to finish in the top four of every race this season so far, while teammate Carlos Sainz is the only driver on the grid not named Verstappen to win a race. Think about it: A 26-year-old Leclerc claiming Ferrari's first championship in close to two decades could have biblical implications.
Why did Ferrari get rid of Sainz? ›
Dropped by Ferrari to make room for Lewis Hamilton, Jean Alesi believes Carlos Sainz has been placed in an “uncomfortable and undeserved situation”. With 2024 set to be the final season on his Ferrari contract, Sainz spoke last year about wanting a new multi-year deal with the team, “not” just two seasons.
Why is Charles Leclerc so famous? ›
Charles Leclerc is a Monégasque professional racing driver, currently driving for Scuderia Ferrari in Formula One. He has rapidly risen through the ranks of motorsport, gaining recognition for his speed and determination on the race track.
Scuderia means stable (noun) in the Italian language. It has entered English usage mainly through professional auto racing, in which many Italian teams incorporate the term in their names. "Scuderia" may refer to: Scuderia Ferrari, a current Italian Formula One team.
Has Leclerc ever won a race? ›
Despite pressure from Hamilton, Leclerc fended him off to claim his first F1 career victory, becoming the youngest ever Ferrari race winner. The Monegasque dedicated the win to his friend Anthoine Hubert, who was killed during a Formula 2 race on the Saturday.
Who is the lead driver for Ferrari F1? ›
Sebastian Vettel is told early on that his contract will not be renewed for 2021, and it's Charles Leclerc who secures 98 of the team's 131 points.
Who is leading the Ferrari F1 team? ›
Ferrari hired Fred Vasseur, formerly of Alfa Romeo, to replace their team principal, Mattia Binotto, after he resigned at the end of 2022.
Who was Enzo Ferrari's Favourite driver? ›
A photo of Enzo Ferrari with his favourite driver of all, Gilles Villeneuve - Picture of Musee Gilles Villeneuve, Berthierville - Tripadvisor.
Who is the main driver in Ford vs Ferrari? ›
The plot follows a determined team of American and English engineers and designers, led by automotive designer Carroll Shelby and his British driver, Ken Miles, who are hired by Henry Ford II and Lee Iacocca to build a race car to defeat the perennially dominant Italian racing team Scuderia Ferrari at the 1966 24 Hours ...
