Charles Leclerc Biography
Charles Leclerc Biography
Charles Leclerc was destined for a Formula 1 career, a destiny intertwined with Ferrari. Having followed his godfather Jules Bianchi into the Ferrari Driver Academy, 2019's promotion to the Scuderia began an emotional journey for the Monaco-native. Leclerc has dedicated much of his career success to Bianchi, who lost his life as a result of injuries sustained in a crash during the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix whilst driving for Marussia. With titles under his belt in GP3 and Formula 2 on his way to Formula 1, Leclerc has been earmarked as a future champion, and an impressive debut season with Ferrari seems to have shown truth to the hype.
Impressive debut with Sauber
Having romped to the F2 title in 2017, a campaign that featured memorable drives in Bahrain and Baku especially, much was expected of Leclerc, even though he was joining a Sauber team that had finished bottom of the constructors' standings the year prior. Key in Leclerc's move to the Swiss outfit, however, were strengthened ties to engine supplier Ferrari, who had signed Leclerc to its academy in 2016 and given testing duties along with it.
After a struggle in the first three races of the season, Leclerc suddenly found his groove in Baku as he scored a sixth-place finish to become just the second Monegasque to take points from a grand prix since Louis Chiron in 1950.
Leclerc comfortably outperformed experienced team-mate Marcus Ericsson, outqualifying the Swede 17-4 and taking points in 10 races.
Ferrari come calling
Leclerc's impressive start to life in F1 sparked many rumours that he would replace former world champion Kimi Raikkonen in the Scuderia's line-up, and it was confirmed in September that Ferrari would break with tradition and give the young Leclerc a chance to prove his worth alongside four-time champion Sebastian Vettel.
And prove his worth he did. At Bahrain, in only his second race for Ferrari, he secured pole position by three-tenths of a second ahead of Vettel. Leclerc dominated the first half of the race before a problem with his power-unit cruelly robbed him of a maiden win.
A mistake in qualifying in Azerbaijan meant that another possible victory slipped by. However, at the Belgian Grand Prix Leclerc held off Lewis Hamilton to take an emotional victory just a day after the death of friend Anthoine Hubert in the Formula 2 race.
At the following round in Italy, Leclerc put up a dogged defence - again against Hamilton - to deliver Ferrari their first victory at Monza since Fernando Alonso triumphed in 2010. Leclerc had announced himself on the biggest of stages.
The season wasn't without controversy though, with team orders and pit stop strategies rising to the fore at the Singapore and Russian Grand Prix's, before the clash with Vettel at Interlagos causing further friction.
Without doubt, Leclerc is a real talent, but will he be given the tools by Ferrari to challenge in 2020?
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
Vettel announces F1 return as FIA single Mercedes out for Miami checks - GPFans F1 Recap
- 17 minutes ago
F1 team announce SHOCK signing weeks after rival departure
- 1 hour ago
Former team boss quizzed on role in Newey's Red Bull exit
- 2 hours ago
RB reveal STRIKING new livery ahead of Miami GP
- 3 hours ago
EXCLUSIVE: Insider claims F1 Academy and W Series couldn't co-exist
- Yesterday 19:57
Wolff delivers big verdict on Hamilton behaviour
- Yesterday 18:57
Related news
Leclerc pictured with new love as post hits 3 MILLION likes
Big name driver 'very angry internally' after controversial battle
Ferrari F1 star concedes key advantage in crucial team-mate battle
Leclerc hints at early F1 RETIREMENT
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860