Charles Leclerc, who has been driving for Ferrari since 2019, is one of the most famous names in the sport. However, being a driver of the Prancing Horses means that his popularity level in Italy is even bigger than some can imagine. This was evident when young Italian soccer starlet Giorgio Scalvini hailed Leclerc for being a ‘predestined’ world champion, as per La Gazzetta Dello Sport.
Scalvini is one of the hottest talents in European soccer at the moment with a market value of $40,000,000, according to transfermarkt.. His recent performances, while playing for Atalanta, earned him a call for the Italian national team at the age of 18. Scalvini’s rising popularity among soccer fans has now transpired into the F1 community after his latest comments on Charles Leclerc.
In an interview with the Italian publication, the 19-year-old talked about his career, and how his life changed in the last two years. The center-back even revealed that he got to know about his selection in the Italian national soccer team when he was in school. However, what F1 fans came across was his love for Leclerc.
“The only one is Charles Leclerc”
Ferrari has one of the largest fan bases in F1, and in Italy, many people claim it is treated like a religion. Scalvini, like millions of Italians, is also a Ferrari fan. He too believes that Leclerc is the man who will bring championship glory back to Maranello.
A reporter asked him about how his life has been in the last two years. “The past two years have turned my life upside down,” he said. “But I don’t feel predestined, also because the only one is Charles Leclerc”
Admittedly, Leclerc has become one of the most adored figures in Italy, since joining Ferrari back in 2019. So far, he hasn’t had the opportunity to fight for the world championship with Ferrari. However, it is his dream to bring the Italian squad back to the top, and by doing so, he wants to fulfill Tifosi’s dreams too.
Charles Leclerc’s season so far
The 2023 season has not gone according to Leclerc’s plan so far. Ferrari has taken a step backward after a promising start to the 2022 season when they were winning races. Since then, Red Bull’s dominance, in addition to Aston Martin and Mercedes’ strong development, overshadowed their own progress.
Currently, the Monegasque driver is 7th in the drivers’ standings with 54 points to his name. His teammate Carlos Sainz is 5th with 68 points. As a team, Ferrari is still being outperformed by Red Bull, Mercedes, and Aston Martin. They are P4 in the constructors’ championship with 122 points.
Leclerc’s last race win came in Austria last season, which is where F1 heads next this campaign. He will be looking to win his first race of the season at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, in a week’s time.
