History of Charles Leclerc in Timeline

Charles Leclerc is a Monégasque Formula One racing driver currently competing for Ferrari. He achieved second place in the 2022 Formula One World Drivers' Championship. Over his nine seasons in the sport, Leclerc has secured eight Grand Prix victories, establishing himself as a prominent figure in Formula One.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles

1931: Monaco Grand Prix win in 1931

In 2024, Charles Leclerc won the Monaco Grand Prix, becoming the first Monégasque driver to win the event since Louis Chiron in 1931.

1950: First Monégasque Driver to Score Points Since Louis Chiron

In 2018, after non-scoring finishes in Bahrain and China, a sixth-placed finish at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix saw him become the first Monégasque driver to score points in Formula One since Louis Chiron in 1950.

1980: Lowest Finish Since 1980

In 2020, Ferrari finished sixth in the World Constructors' Championship—their lowest since 1980.

1994: First Monégasque Driver Since Olivier Beretta

In 2018, with his debut at the Australian Grand Prix, Leclerc became the first Monégasque driver to compete in Formula One since Olivier Beretta in 1994.

October 1997: Charles Leclerc's Birth

In October 1997, Charles Marc Hervé Perceval Leclerc was born in Monte Carlo, Monaco, to Hervé Leclerc, a former Formula Three racing driver, and Pascale, a former hairdresser.

Others born on this day/year

2005: Competitive Karting Debut

In 2005, Charles Leclerc began his competitive karting career, winning the regional PACA championship in the Mini class with 15 wins from 18 races.

2006: Defense of PACA Championship

In 2006, Charles Leclerc successfully defended his regional PACA championship in the Mini class.

2007: Advancement to Minime

In 2007, Charles Leclerc advanced to the Minime class, winning the Trophée Claude Secq and finishing runner-up at the PACA championship.

2009: French Championship and Bridgestone Cup Wins

In 2009, Charles Leclerc won the French Championship and Bridgestone Cup, as well as the regional Rhône-Alpes title, in the Cadet class and partnered with Richard Mille.

2010: International Karting Competition

In 2010, Charles Leclerc progressed to international competition, entering the junior KF3 class, where he became the youngest winner of the CIK-FIA Monaco Kart Cup.

2010: Ferrari Winner at Monza Since Alonso

In 2019, Leclerc won the Italian Grand Prix from pole, defending the lead from both Mercedes drivers to become the first Ferrari winner at Monza since Fernando Alonso in 2010.

2011: Karting World Cup Win

In 2011, Charles Leclerc won the World Cup at Sarno and joined All Road Management firm, marking a significant achievement in his karting career.

2011: Victory at the Junior World Cup

In 2011, Charles Leclerc won the junior World Cup, marking a significant achievement in his karting career.

2012: Senior KF2 Category

In 2012, Charles Leclerc graduated to the senior KF2 category with the factory-backed ART Grand Prix team, winning the WSK Euro Series.

2013: KZ Senior Gearbox Class Progression

In 2013, Charles Leclerc progressed to the KZ senior gearbox class, aged 15, and finished runner-up to Max Verstappen at Varennes-sur-Allier in a duel to become the youngest-ever KZ World Champion.

2014: Formula Renault 2.0 Debut

In 2014, Charles Leclerc graduated to junior formulae, signing for Fortec in Formula Renault 2.0, aged 16 and finished runner-up to Nyck de Vries in the Alps Series.

December 2015: GP3 Testing with ART and Ferrari Driver Academy

In December 2015, Charles Leclerc partook in post-season GP3 testing with ART and Arden. He joined the Ferrari Driver Academy prior to the season.

2015: FIA European F3

In 2015, Charles Leclerc contested FIA European F3 with Van Amersfoort Racing, claiming his maiden victory and multiple podiums.

2015: Graduation to FIA European Formula 3

In 2015, Charles Leclerc graduated to FIA European Formula 3, where he won several races and finished fourth in his rookie season.

2015: Death of Jules Bianchi

In 2015, Jules Bianchi, Leclerc's godfather and mechanic in kart racing, passed away.

2016: Joining Ferrari Driver Academy and Development Driver Role

In 2016, Charles Leclerc joined the Ferrari Driver Academy and signed as a development driver for both Haas and Ferrari. He debuted with a test drive at Fiorano in the Ferrari F14 T and participated in free practice sessions for Haas at the British, Hungarian, German, and Brazilian Grands Prix. Later, he completed his first official test for Ferrari at Silverstone in the SF16-H.

2016: GP3 Series Debut and Victory

In 2016, Charles Leclerc won his debut race in the GP3 Series with ART by over six seconds and took pole position at the Red Bull Ring.

2016: GP3 Series Championship Win

In 2016, Charles Leclerc won his first championship at the GP3 Series with ART.

2017: Formula 2 Championship Win

In 2017, Charles Leclerc clinched the Formula 2 title at Jerez, becoming the then-youngest GP2/Formula 2 champion and was named FIA Rookie of the Year. He achieved a record-equalling seventh victory of the season at the Yas Island round.

2017: FIA Formula 2 Progression and Victory

In 2017, Charles Leclerc progressed to FIA Formula 2 with Prema, took pole position for the feature race at Sakhir, and secured his maiden F2 victory. He dedicated his pole in Baku to his recently deceased father, Hervé.

2017: Death of Hervé Leclerc

In 2017, Hervé Leclerc, Charles' father, passed away after a long illness, four days before Charles won the feature race at the Baku Formula 2 round.

2017: Ferrari Test and Sauber Practice Sessions

In 2017, Leclerc participated in a mid-season test at the Hungaroring with Ferrari, driving the SF70H and setting the fastest lap on the first day. He also completed free practice sessions with Sauber at the Malaysian, United States, Mexican, and Brazilian Grands Prix.

2018: Formula One Debut with Sauber

In 2018, Charles Leclerc made his Formula One debut with Sauber, scoring several points finishes in the C37.

2018: Signing with Sauber

In 2018, Charles Leclerc signed a Formula One contract with Sauber.

2018: Signing with Sauber and Formula One Debut

In 2018, Leclerc signed with Sauber as a full-time driver, partnering with Marcus Ericsson. He made his Formula One debut at the Australian Grand Prix, finishing thirteenth. He later became the first Monégasque driver to score points in Formula One since 1950 with a sixth-place finish at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

2018: Post-Season Test with Ferrari

In 2019, Leclerc entered the 2018 post-season test with Ferrari at Yas Marina, setting the fastest time in the SF71H.

2019: Joins Ferrari and Maiden Win

In 2019, Charles Leclerc partnered with Sebastian Vettel at Ferrari, became the second-youngest polesitter in Formula One history at the Bahrain Grand Prix, and secured his maiden career win in Belgium.

2019: Leclerc's FIA Pole Trophy in 2019

In 2019, Charles Leclerc received the FIA Pole Trophy as the youngest recipient for achieving the most pole positions, showcasing his exceptional qualifying skills. Andrew Benson of BBC Sport described his pole lap at the Singapore Grand Prix in 2019 as "one of the qualifying performances of the season".

2019: Signing with Ferrari and Maiden Podium

In 2019, Leclerc signed with Ferrari, partnering with Sebastian Vettel. He set the fastest time in the SF71H during the 2018 post-season test. In Bahrain, Leclerc secured his maiden pole position and finished third, claiming his first podium finish, after an engine issue.

2019: Leclerc's Aggression and Wheel-to-Wheel Racing in 2019

In 2019, after conceding the lead to Max Verstappen at the Austrian Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc expressed his view on Verstappen's overtaking maneuver. He later engaged in a hard-fought battle with Verstappen for third place, which was hailed as an exciting contest. Leclerc also defended his lead at the Italian Grand Prix, earning the nickname 'il Predestinato'.

2019: First Pole Since 2019 Mexican Grand Prix

In 2021, Leclerc secured a surprise pole position at his home Grand Prix in Monaco—his first since the 2019 Mexican Grand Prix.

2019: First Victory Since 2019

In 2022, new regulations utilising ground effect saw Ferrari challenge Red Bull in the first half of 2022. Leclerc qualified on pole position for the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix before winning the race amidst a close battle with Max Verstappen, marking his and Ferrari's first victory since 2019.

2019: Ferrari's first home win since 2019

In 2024, Charles Leclerc received widespread acclaim for his surprise victory at the Italian Grand Prix, completing a one-stop strategy to secure Ferrari's first home win since 2019.

2020: Winless Season for Ferrari

In 2020, Charles Leclerc experienced a winless season with Ferrari.

2020: Leclerc Ranked Seventh-Fastest Qualifier in 2020

In 2020, an Amazon Web Services study assessed Charles Leclerc as the seventh-fastest Formula One driver of all time, focusing on qualifying performance.

2020: COVID-19 Pandemic Impact and Season Performance

The 2020 season was delayed and shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Leclerc finished third at the Austrian Grand Prix and faced scrutiny for allegedly breaching safety protocols. Leclerc collided with teammate Sebastian Vettel at the Styrian Grand Prix. He finished eighth in the championship.

2021: Another Winless Season for Ferrari

In 2021, Charles Leclerc faced another winless season with Ferrari.

2021: Praise for Leclerc's Overtake in 2021

In 2021, Jonathan Noble of Motorsport.com praised Charles Leclerc's first-corner overtake on Bottas at the Spanish Grand Prix, describing the move as sensational.

2021: Partnering with Carlos Sainz Jr. and Season Results

In 2021, Leclerc partnered with Carlos Sainz Jr. at Ferrari. Leclerc finished fourth at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. At the Monaco Grand Prix, Leclerc secured a surprise pole position after colliding with the barrier. He finished second at the British Grand Prix. He finished seventh in the World Drivers' Championship.

2021: Sainz Jr. Praises Leclerc's Qualifying Prowess in 2021

In 2021, after Charles Leclerc achieved back-to-back poles at the Monaco and Azerbaijan Grands Prix, his then-teammate Carlos Sainz Jr. hailed him as the best qualifier in Formula One. Edd Straw of The Race noted his ability to maximize a car's potential and live on the edge during qualifying laps.

2022: Ferrari Contract Until 2022

In 2019, when Leclerc signed for Ferrari, then-team principal Maurizio Arrivabene stated that his contract would run until 2022.

2022: Arthur Leclerc's Championship Win

In 2022, Arthur Leclerc, Charles' younger brother, won the Formula Regional Asian Championship.

2022: Runner-Up in the World Drivers' Championship

In 2022, Charles Leclerc achieved several victories and finished runner-up to Max Verstappen in the World Drivers' Championship.

2022: Formula One Runner-Up

In 2022, Charles Leclerc finished as runner-up in the Formula One World Drivers' Championship while driving for Ferrari.

2022: Leclerc repeats FIA Pole Trophy win in 2022

In 2022, Charles Leclerc once again won the FIA Pole Trophy, showcasing his exceptional qualifying skills by achieving the most pole positions that year.

2022: Acclaim for Bahrain and British Grand Prix Battles

In 2022, Charles Leclerc received acclaim for his battle with Max Verstappen at the Bahrain Grand Prix, where his effective use of the drag reduction system was noted. He was also praised by Lewis Hamilton after their battle at the British Grand Prix, where Leclerc overtook him around the outside of Copse on older tyres.

2022: Ferrari 1-2 finish in Bahrain Grand Prix

In 2022, Charles Leclerc was part of the Ferrari team that completed a 1-2 finish in the Bahrain Grand Prix. This was their first since the 2022 Bahrain Grand Prix.

2022: Leclerc's Qualifying Prowess in 2022

In 2022, Laurence Edmondson of ESPN praised Charles Leclerc's pole lap at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix as a prime example of his precision and speed, solidifying his claim as Formula One's fastest driver over a single lap.

2022: Challenging Red Bull and First Victory Since 2019

In 2022, new regulations saw Ferrari challenge Red Bull. Leclerc won the Bahrain Grand Prix, marking his and Ferrari's first victory since 2019, becoming the first Monégasque driver to lead the World Drivers' Championship. He spun at the Variante Alta chicane at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. In Spain, a power unit failure forced his retirement. At the Monaco Grand Prix, Leclerc finished fourth due to a strategy error.

2023: Multiple Podiums

In 2023, Charles Leclerc achieved five pole positions and six podiums.

2023: Leclerc's 2023 Season

In 2023, Charles Leclerc experienced a season of mixed results. He achieved five pole positions and six podiums but faced challenges with Ferrari's race pace and tyre wear. Notable moments include retiring from the Bahrain Grand Prix due to a technical issue, pole position at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix followed by a podium finish, disqualification from the United States Grand Prix due to excessive skid block wear, and finishing second at the Las Vegas Grand Prix. He ended the season fifth in the World Drivers' Championship.

2023: Leclerc's Qualifying Acclaim in 2023

In 2023, Martin Brundle opined that Charles Leclerc was the fastest qualifier among the Formula One drivers.

February 2024: Release of 'Dreamers' EP with Sofiane Pamart

In February 2024, Charles Leclerc released his debut extended play, Dreamers, alongside French pianist Sofiane Pamart. The EP peaked at number two on the Billboard Classical Albums chart and number one on the Classical Crossover Albums chart, also charting in Germany and Switzerland.

April 2024: Launch of LEC Ice Cream Brand

In April 2024, Charles Leclerc launched an eponymous ice cream brand called LEC, a reference to his three-letter code on Formula One television graphics.

November 2024: Appearance in 'Charles Leclerc – Supersonique' Documentary

In November 2024, Charles Leclerc appeared in 'Charles Leclerc – Supersonique', a Canal+ documentary, where he attempted aerobatics in a Dassault Rafale with the French Air and Space Force at Saint-Dizier – Robinson Air Base. He successfully endured a 9 g manoeuvre and an aerial refuelling mission.

2024: Extended Ferrari Contract

In 2019, Leclerc extended his Ferrari contract until the end of 2024.

2024: Leclerc's Contract Extension and 2024 Season

In 2024, Charles Leclerc extended his contract with Ferrari beyond the 2026 regulation changes. He secured his first Monaco Grand Prix win, becoming the first Monégasque driver to win since 1931. He finished third in the championship, achieving three victories and 13 podiums, outscoring the rest of the field after the summer break.

2024: Torchbearer for Summer Olympics and National Hero Status

In 2024, Charles Leclerc served as a torchbearer for the Monégasque leg ahead of the Summer Olympics. He has also been widely described as a national hero of Monaco, particularly following his victory at his home Grand Prix that year.

2024: Monaco Grand Prix Victory

In 2024, Charles Leclerc won the Monaco Grand Prix, becoming the first Monégasque driver to win the race in 93 years; he achieved further victories in Italy and the United States as he finished third in the championship.

2024: Tribute Helmet at Japanese Grand Prix and Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

In 2024, Charles Leclerc wore a tribute helmet to Jules Bianchi at the Japanese Grand Prix, the tenth anniversary of his fatal accident. He also wore a tribute design for departing teammate Carlos Sainz Jr. at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

2024: Dreamers Album Release

Outside of motor racing, in 2024, Charles Leclerc collaborated with pianist Sofiane Pamart on an extended play, Dreamers, which peaked at number two on the Billboard Classical Albums chart.

2025: Leclerc's 2025 Season with Hamilton

In 2025, Charles Leclerc partnered with Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari. He finished fifth in the championship, outscoring Hamilton, despite challenges and a public feud. Leclerc secured seven podiums during the season.

2025: Leclerc's Pole Lap at the Hungarian Grand Prix in 2025

Mark Hughes described Charles Leclerc as "Senna-like" at Monaco, noting his advantage at the high-speed Tabac in 2025. His pole lap at the Hungarian Grand Prix that year, where he surpassed the dominant McLaren MCL39, was described as "sensational".

2026: Leclerc Prepares for New Regulations in 2026

Ahead of new chassis and power unit regulations in 2026, Charles Leclerc expressed that it was a crucial period for his prospects of winning a World Drivers' Championship with Ferrari. He showed strong pre-season performance with the SF-26, leading the Australian Grand Prix before finishing third.

2026: Future with Ferrari

As of the 2026 Japanese Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc has achieved eight race wins, 11 fastest laps, and 52 podiums in Formula One; he also holds the record for the most pole positions without a World Drivers' Championship (27). Charles Leclerc is contracted to remain at Ferrari until at least the end of the 2026 season.

2026: Leclerc's Championship Aspirations in 2026

In 2026, with new regulations approaching, Charles Leclerc emphasized the importance of the upcoming season for his World Drivers' Championship aspirations with Ferrari. He showed promise with the SF-26 during pre-season.