Charles Leclerc: “I was a Ferrari fan before becoming a driver and that’s a strength”. Charles Leclerc was born into F1 on the sporting side of Maranello, and Ferrari is his only family.

Never before have the ties between a driver and a team been so strong. The Monegasque driver was born into F1 on the sporting side of Maranello, and Ferrari is his only family. First integrated into the Ferrari Driver Academy in 2016, then invited to join the Scuderia in 2019, Charles has since won the hearts of the tifosi. A meeting with the prodigal son of the Red House. Here is Charles Leclerc’s recent interview for autohebdo.fr.

Looking back, what are your best and worst moments with the Scuderia?

Let’s start with the worst: Monaco in 2021 and 2022. Difficult moments, at home. Having the chance to win at home and not managing to do so because of a technical issue in 2021 and a slightly (too) off-strategy in 2022 hurt me. The best moments remain Monza 2019 for my first victory in front of the tifosi and Monaco last year in front of my compatriots. Two very emotional moments that will always be special, no matter what happens next.

Fred Vasseur’s role in Ferrari’s current success?

Charles: “Huge! If we are where we are now, at a performance level that allows us to fight for the championship, it’s thanks to the work he has done since his arrival. From the day I learned he was taking over the Scuderia, I knew the project we were trying to build together had a future. I had immediate trust, which has only grown since.”

How was your adaptation to Maranello in 2019?

Charles: “It was quite fast because I had already been a member of the FDA for a few seasons. It was my family, even though the environment suddenly became very different, with a much larger staff. I think it took me 3 or 4 races. Speaking fluent Italian and being surrounded by Italians helped me a lot as well. They are warm people; they make you feel at home. My favorite dish is pasta with olive oil—no surprise there!”

Your relationship with the tifosi?

Charles: “It is very, very special. I was a Ferrari fan before becoming a driver, and it’s a strength to have experienced both sides of the same coin. It’s a unique feeling. I joined the Ferrari family very young. At the time, I considered myself more of a ‘fan’ than a ‘driver’! Over the seasons within the Academy, that balance gradually shifted.”

Are your fans Ferrari fans first or Leclerc fans first?

CL: “Before arriving in Maranello, I had a very small fan base; it grew massively with the tifosi. It’s Ferrari that has given me an incredible number of fans, whom I try not to disappoint. At first, the goal was to become an F1 driver, which seemed light-years away, then to become a Ferrari driver, which felt even farther—like another galaxy. Today, I have the privilege of living my dream, and it’s just insane!”

Your childhood connection to Ferrari?

Charles: “My parents always told me that the only car that interested me was the red one. Of course, I didn’t know it was a Ferrari; I had no idea what it represented or even what Formula 1 was… As I grew up, I learned the history of the brand, what Ferrari meant, and my passion only grew. Everything has always revolved around Ferrari—it became my one and only dream.”

Your first meeting with Fred Vasseur?*

Charles: “I have a memory lapse […] I feel like he has always been by my side throughout my career. For me, it’s one of the most important and rewarding encounters of my life.”