Charles Leclerc
Charles Leclerc grew up in Monaco — literally a few minutes from one of the most famous Grand Prix circuits in the world. When he's not racing for Ferrari, he's playing piano, writing songs, and navigating the particular experience of being a racing driver who also lives in a place that shuts down for a racing event every year.
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Leclerc learned piano as a child and has continued playing throughout his racing career. He has released original music, including piano compositions, on streaming platforms. He's described music as something that helps him process emotions, and has said that the concentration required for serious piano playing has parallels with the focus needed in racing.
Leclerc was born and raised in Monte Carlo, and the Monaco Grand Prix circuit runs through the streets of the principality he calls home. As a child he watched the race from the streets near his house. The experience of racing as a Ferrari driver in the event that passes your bedroom window is one that only he, among current drivers, can claim.
Leclerc's father Hervé died of illness in 2017 — the night before Leclerc competed in a Formula 2 race in Baku, which he won and dedicated to his father. Jules Bianchi, his godfather and racing mentor, had died in 2015 from injuries sustained in the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix. These losses shaped Leclerc profoundly and he has spoken about them with unusual openness for a professional athlete.
Leclerc is among the most prominent gamer-racers in the current F1 grid. During the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020, he competed in the Virtual Grand Prix series on F1 2020 and performed impressively. He streams gaming sessions, plays football games, and has competed in charity gaming events. His online presence is more spontaneous and unfiltered than many of his rivals.
Leclerc's younger brother Arthur Leclerc has also pursued a professional motorsport career, competing in Formula 2 and junior series. Charles has been a visible supporter of his brother's career, attending his races when schedules allow and speaking supportively about his progress. The dynamic of two brothers competing in professional motorsport generates regular family tension around race weekends.
Many F1 drivers move to Monaco for tax and lifestyle reasons. Leclerc is unusual in that Monaco is where he's actually from — he didn't choose it for tax purposes, he grew up there. He has stayed in the principality throughout his career and speaks about it as genuinely home rather than a convenient residence, which is a distinction that matters to him.