Charles Leclerc is one of the most popular and talented drivers in F1 today. Having made his debut in 2018 with Sauber, it didn’t take him long to show what he is really about. He overperformed in a very average Sauber car in his debut year, even guiding it to a P6 finish.
His strong performances earned him his dream move to Ferrari, a team he supported since he was a child. Leclerc’s father Herve Leclerc who was an F3 driver himself always wanted to see his son make it to F1 and drive for Ferrari but unfortunately passed away a year before he made it. However, to make his father happy and fulfill his last wish, Leclerc told him that he got into F1 before Sauber actually signed him up.
During an interview with Will Buxton ahead of the 2018 Monaco GP, Leclerc revealed the story of his father’s last days, when he told him about signing for Sauber before he did. Buxton asked Leclerc about the helmet he was going to wear for the race, which was the same as the one his father wore during an F3 race in Monaco 30 years ago. Leclerc said that it was a good omen, and went on to describe his relationship with his father.
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Charles Leclerc owes his entire F1 success to his father’s teachings
Leclerc said that his father has done absolutely everything to help support him and his dream to make it into F1. However, he also lamented over the fact that he isn’t here to see him anymore.
“My father has done absolutely everything,” Leclerc said. “For me to arrive here. Unfortunately, he’s not here anymore to see where I arrived. But yeah, I remember last year, before I actually signed for Sauber, I had told him I signed in F1 to make him happy.”
“We knew the end was near, and I’m very happy that I managed to do that and that now I’m in Monaco racing in Formula 1. And that, he can see that from up there.”
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Leclerc’s comments on his father Herve made Will Buxton cry
Buxton is one F1’s most reputed journalists, and he was the one taking Leclerc’s interview when he shared the story about his father’s last days. Buxton got emotional, and admitted that he didn’t know about this story.
“That got me choked up a little bit,” the Brit said.
Leclerc spent a year in Sauber before joining Ferrari, a team he is still driving for. He’s one of the sport’s biggest talents and the majority of the Tifosi believes that he is the driver who will bring Championship glory back to Maranello.
