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 Formula One World Drivers' Championship in 2022. Over his eight seasons in Formula One, Leclerc has secured eight Grand Prix victories, establishing himself as a prominent figure in the sport.

Sections (5)

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

1931: First Monégasque Driver to Win Monaco Grand Prix Since 1931

In 2024, Leclerc won the Monaco Grand Prix—his home race—for the first time in his career, having started on pole position. He became the first Monégasque driver to win the event since Louis Chiron in 1931, and the first in the Formula One World Championship.

1950: Monégasque Driver Scoring Points in Formula One

In 2018, Charles Leclerc became the first Monégasque driver to score points in Formula One since Louis Chiron in 1950, achieving this at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

1976: Remake of 1976 French Short Film

Charles Leclerc starred in Claude Lelouch's Le Grand Rendez-vous (2020)—a remake of the 1976 French short film C'était un rendez-vous

1980: Lowest Finish Since

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

1994: Monégasque Driver in Formula One

In 2018, Charles Leclerc's debut at the Australian Grand Prix marked the first time since 1994 that a Monégasque driver competed in Formula One, the previous driver being Olivier Beretta.

October 1997: Charles Leclerc's Birth

On 16 October 1997, Charles Marc Hervé Perceval Leclerc was born in Monte Carlo, Monaco, to Hervé Leclerc, a former Formula Three racing driver, and Pascale Leclerc (née Manni), a former hairdresser.

Others born on this day/year

2005: Began Competitive Karting

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: Defended PACA Championship

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

2007: Advanced 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: Partnership with Richard Mille

In 2009, Charles Leclerc partnered with Swiss luxury watch company Richard Mille, who supported him throughout his kart racing and junior formulae career.

2009: Won French Championship and Bridgestone Cup

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

2009: N. Hülkenberg

In 2009, N. Hülkenberg

2010: International Karting Competition

In 2010, Charles Leclerc entered international competition in the junior KF3 class, becoming the youngest winner of the CIK-FIA Monaco Kart Cup.

2010: Ferrari Winner at Monza

In 2019, Leclerc won the Italian Grand Prix, becoming the first Ferrari winner at Monza since Fernando Alonso in 2010.

2011: Victory at the junior direct-drive Karting World Cup

In 2011, Charles Leclerc achieved victory at the junior direct-drive Karting World Cup, marking a significant milestone in his early karting career.

2011: Joined All Road Management

In 2011, Charles Leclerc was scouted by Nicolas Todt and joined his All Road Management firm. He also won the World Cup at Sarno, the Academy Trophy, and the Masters of Paris-Bercy.

2012: Senior KF2 Category

In 2012, Charles Leclerc graduated to the senior KF2 category with ART Grand Prix, winning the WSK Euro Series. He also finished runner-up in the Karting European Championship and the under-18 Karting World Championship.

2013: KZ Senior Gearbox Class

In 2013, Charles Leclerc progressed to the KZ senior gearbox class, winning the South Garda Winter Cup in KZ2 and finishing runner-up in the KZ World Championship.

2014: Graduation to Junior Formulae

In 2014, Charles Leclerc graduated to junior formulae, signing for Fortec in Formula Renault 2.0, debuting in the Alps Series. He achieved his maiden formula racing victories at Monza. He finished second to Nyck de Vries

December 2015: GP3 Testing and Ferrari Driver Academy

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

2015: FIA European F3

In 2015, Charles Leclerc contested FIA European F3 with Van Amersfoort Racing, securing his maiden victory amidst a race-long battle with Antonio Giovinazzi at Silverstone. He claimed an additional three consecutive podiums at the Hockenheimring, winning the rain-affected third race after overtaking Rosenqvist.

2015: Graduation to FIA European Formula 3

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

2015: Death of Jules Bianchi

In 2015, Jules Bianchi, who was best friends with Charles Leclerc's older half-brother and Leclerc's godfather and mechanic, passed away.

2016: Joining Ferrari Driver Academy and Testing Debut

In 2016, Charles Leclerc joined the Ferrari Driver Academy and was signed as a development driver for Haas and Ferrari. He made his testing debut at Fiorano, driving the Ferrari F14 T. He participated in free practice sessions for Haas at the British, Hungarian, German and Brazilian Grands Prix. He completed his first official test for Ferrari at Silverstone in the SF16-H. Despite rumors, he progressed to FIA Formula 2 instead of Formula One with Haas.

2016: GP3 Series Debut and Victory

In 2016, Charles Leclerc qualified third at Catalunya and won his debut GP3 race by over six seconds with ART.

2016: GP3 Series Championship Win

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

2017: C. Leclerc

In 2017, C. Leclerc

2017: Formula 2 Championship Win and FIA Rookie of the Year

In 2017, Charles Leclerc achieved a record-equalling sixth consecutive pole at Silverstone. He clinched the Formula 2 title at Jerez, becoming the then-youngest champion, and was named FIA Rookie of the Year, achieving seven wins from 10 podiums and eight pole positions.

2017: FIA Formula 2 Debut and Victory

In 2017, Charles Leclerc debuted in FIA Formula 2 with Prema, taking pole position and finishing third in the feature race at Sakhir. He secured his maiden F2 victory in the reverse-grid sprint race. He dedicated his pole in Baku to his recently-deceased father Hervé, before converting it to victory in the feature and second-place in the sprint.

2017: FIA Formula 2 Championship Win

In 2017, Charles Leclerc won the inaugural FIA Formula 2 Championship with Prema, becoming the fourth driver to win the GP2/Formula 2 championship in their rookie season.

2017: Father's Death and F2 Feature Race Win

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: Mid-Season Testing with Ferrari

In 2017, Leclerc took part in the mid-season test at the Hungaroring with Ferrari, driving the SF70H. He completed 98 laps and set the fastest lap of the first day. Kimi Räikkönen praised his performance. Leclerc completed further free practice sessions with Sauber at the Malaysian, United States, Mexican and Brazilian Grands Prix after signing with the team for 2018.

2018: Signing with Sauber for Full-Time Role

Charles Leclerc signed with Sauber in 2018 as a full-time driver, replacing Pascal Wehrlein to partner Marcus Ericsson. He also completed further free practice sessions with Sauber at the Malaysian, United States, Mexican and Brazilian Grands Prix after signing with the team.

2018: Formula One Debut and Rookie Season

In 2018, Charles Leclerc debuted in Formula One with Sauber at the Australian Grand Prix, becoming the first Monégasque driver since 1994 to compete in F1. He finished thirteenth on debut and later scored points at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, becoming the first Monégasque driver since 1950 to score points in Formula One. Leclerc experienced brake failure at his home Grand Prix in Monaco and several retirements throughout the season, but also secured multiple points finishes. He closed the season with three consecutive seventh-placed finishes, finishing thirteenth in the World Drivers' Championship and was named FIA Rookie of the Year.

2018: Formula One Debut with Sauber

In 2018, Charles Leclerc made his Formula One debut with Sauber as part of the Ferrari Driver Academy, earning several points finishes in the C37.

2018: Signing with Sauber

In 2018, Charles Leclerc signed a Formula One contract with Sauber, fulfilling a promise he made to his father before his death.

2018: Named ambassador of the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation

In 2018, Charles Leclerc was named an ambassador of the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation, helping to promote the benefits of learning to swim.

2018: Post-Season Test with Ferrari

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

2019: Aggression Adjustments

After ceding the lead of the 2019 Austrian Grand Prix to Max Verstappen, Leclerc claimed his move was "not the way you overtake" and that he would adjust his aggression going forward. He defended his lead at the 2019 Italian Grand Prix from both Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas.

2019: Youngest Recipient of the FIA Pole Trophy in 2019

Charles Leclerc became the youngest recipient of the FIA Pole Trophy in 2019 for achieving the most pole positions.

2019: Relationship with Charlotte Siné began

From 2019, Charles Leclerc was in a relationship with Monégasque architect and influencer Charlotte Siné.

2019: Joins Ferrari and First F1 Win

In 2019, Charles Leclerc joined Ferrari to partner Sebastian Vettel, became the second-youngest polesitter at the Bahrain Grand Prix, and secured his maiden career win in Belgium. He also ended Ferrari's nine-year drought at the Italian Grand Prix, earning the nickname "il Predestinato".

2019: Launched go-kart brand in collaboration with Birel ART

In 2019, Charles Leclerc launched his own go-kart brand as part of a collaboration with Birel ART.

2019: Signing with Ferrari and Maiden Pole Position

In 2019, Leclerc signed for Ferrari, partnering with Sebastian Vettel. He debuted for the team at the Australian Grand Prix, finishing fifth. In Bahrain, Leclerc secured his maiden pole position, becoming the second-youngest polesitter in Formula One history. Despite leading the race, an engine issue relegated him to third. He experienced strategic errors and collisions throughout the season but also secured multiple podium finishes.

2019: N. de Vries

In 2019, N. de Vries

2019: First pole since 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 after colliding with the barrier at La Piscine in the final part of qualifying.

2019: First Victory Since

In 2022, Leclerc won the Bahrain Grand Prix, marking his and Ferrari's first victory since 2019

2019: First Ferrari home win since 2019

In 2024, 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.

2019: Penalized for Collision

Leclerc was further penalized for causing a collision with Verstappen at the 2019 Japanese Grand Prix.

April 2020: Won Race for the World sim racing championship

In April 2020, Charles Leclerc won the Race for the World sim racing championship, raising over US$70,000 for the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund.

2020: Winless Season for Ferrari

2020 was a winless season for Charles Leclerc with Ferrari.

2020: Starred in Le Grand Rendez-vous (2020)

Charles Leclerc starred in Claude Lelouch's Le Grand Rendez-vous in 2020, a remake of the 1976 short film.

2020: Tribute Helmet for Vettel

Charles Leclerc wore a tribute helmet for Sebastian Vettel at the 2020 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix—their final race as teammates.

2020: Endorsement model for Giorgio Armani

In 2020, Charles Leclerc became an endorsement model for the Italian fashion house Giorgio Armani.

2020: M. Schumacher

In 2020, M. Schumacher

2020: Listed as Seventh-Fastest Formula One Driver

In 2020, a study by Amazon Web Services listed Leclerc as the seventh-fastest Formula One driver of all time.

2020: COVID-19 Impacted Season and FIA Investigation

In 2020, the season was delayed and shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Leclerc secured a podium at the Austrian Grand Prix. He was investigated by the FIA for allegedly breaching COVID-19 safety protocols. He collided with teammate Sebastian Vettel at the Styrian Grand Prix. Leclerc also faced allegations of racism for opting to not take the knee during pre-race ceremonies. He finished eighth in the standings.

2020: Criticism for Race-Ending Mistakes

Leclerc has been criticised for race-ending mistakes throughout his early seasons in Formula One, particularly at the 2020 Italian, 2020 Sakhir, and 2022 French Grands Prix.

2021: Back-to-Back Poles

After his back-to-back poles at the Monaco and Azerbaijan Grands Prix in 2021, then-teammate Carlos Sainz Jr. proclaimed Leclerc as the best qualifier in Formula One.

2021: Another Winless Season for Ferrari

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

2021: Partnered with Carlos Sainz Jr. and Monaco Grand Prix

In 2021, Leclerc was partnered with Carlos Sainz Jr. at Ferrari. He secured a pole position at his home Grand Prix in Monaco but was unable to start the race due to a drive shaft issue. He then finished fourth in Azerbaijan. Leclerc retired from the rain-affected Hungarian Grand Prix and finished seventh in the World Drivers' Championship.

2021: Sensational First-Corner Overtake

In 2021, Leclerc was praised for his first-corner overtake on Bottas at the Spanish Grand Prix, with Jonathan Noble of Motorsport.com describing the move as "sensational".

2022: Repeated FIA Pole Trophy in 2022

Charles Leclerc repeated his feat and won the FIA Pole Trophy again in 2022.

2022: Contract Run with Ferrari

In 2019, then-team principal Maurizio Arrivabene stated that Charles Leclerc's contract with Ferrari would run until 2022.

2022: Voice Acting Debut in Lightyear (2022)

In 2022, Charles Leclerc made his voice acting debut in the Italian-language version of Pixar's Toy Story animated spin-off film Lightyear.

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2022: Runner-Up in the World Drivers' Championship

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

2022: Relationship with Charlotte Siné ended

In 2022, Charles Leclerc's relationship with Monégasque architect and influencer Charlotte Siné ended.

2022: Brother Wins Formula Regional Asian Championship

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

2022: Acclaim for Bahrain and British Grand Prix Battles

In 2022, Leclerc received acclaim for his battle with Verstappen at the Bahrain Grand Prix. He was praised by Hamilton after their battle at the 2022 British Grand Prix, where Leclerc overtook him around the outside of Copse on older tyres.

2022: Victory in Bahrain and Championship Lead

In 2022, utilizing new ground effect regulations, Leclerc won the Bahrain Grand Prix, marking his and Ferrari's first victory since 2019. The result saw him become the first Monégasque driver to lead the World Drivers' Championship. He also won the Australian Grand Prix.

2022: First Ferrari 1-2 Finish Since 2022 Bahrain Grand Prix

In 2024, Charles Leclerc completed a Ferrari 1-2 finish in Australia—their first since the 2022 Bahrain Grand Prix.

2022: Azerbaijan Grand Prix Pole Lap

Laurence Edmondson of ESPN described Leclerc's pole lap at the 2022 Azerbaijan Grand Prix as his latest example of his pinpoint precision and masterful speed.

April 2023: Debut Single Release

In April 2023, Charles Leclerc released his debut piano-composed single "AUS23 (1:1)", referencing the 2023 Australian Grand Prix.

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2023: Gilles Villeneuve Helmet Design Controversy

Controversy arose over Leclerc's Gilles Villeneuve helmet design for the 2023 Canadian Grand Prix, after the Villeneuve family initially claimed he did not ask for permission.

2023: Auctioned Monaco Grand Prix equipment for Emilia-Romagna flood victims

In 2023, Charles Leclerc auctioned the equipment he wore at the Monaco Grand Prix, raising €368,800 for victims of the Emilia-Romagna floods; his helmet sold for a record €306,000.

2023: 2023 Season

In 2023, Ferrari struggled with race pace and tire wear, while Red Bull improved from the previous year. Charles Leclerc had mixed results, including a retirement in Bahrain, recovering to seventh in Saudi Arabia, and another retirement in Australia. He achieved a pole position and finished third in Azerbaijan. Despite some strong qualifying performances and podiums, he faced challenges, including disqualification in the United States Grand Prix. He finished the season fifth in the World Drivers' Championship with 206 points. He achieved five pole positions and six podiums throughout the 2023 season.

2023: Fastest amongst the 2023 drivers

In 2023, Martin Brundle opined Leclerc was the fastest amongst the 2023 drivers.

2023: Five Pole Positions and Six Podiums

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

2023: Relationship with Alexandra Saint Mleux began

Since 2023, Charles Leclerc has been in a relationship with Italian model and art historian Alexandra Saint Mleux.

February 2024: Debut EP Release

In February 2024, Leclerc released his debut extended play, Dreamers, with Sofiane Pamart, which charted on Billboard.

April 2024: Leclerc launched an ice cream brand called LEC

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

November 2024: Appearance in Canal+ Documentary

In November 2024, Leclerc appeared in Charles Leclerc – Supersonique, a Canal+ documentary, where he attempted aerobatics in a Dassault Rafale.

2024: Acclaim for Racecraft after 2024 Season

After the 2024 season, Alex Kalinauckas of Autosport lauded Leclerc's racecraft, highlighting instances of his defensive driving, as well as an overtake on George Russell at the Chinese Grand Prix.

2024: Ferrari Contract Extension

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

2024: Release of Dreamers EP

In 2024, Charles Leclerc collaborated with pianist Sofiane Pamart on the extended play Dreamers, which peaked at number two on the Billboard Classical Albums chart.

2024: 2024 Season

In 2024, Charles Leclerc extended his contract with Ferrari. He secured a 1-2 finish with Carlos Sainz Jr. in Australia, the first since 2022. He won the Monaco Grand Prix for the first time, becoming the first Monégasque driver to win since 1931. He finished third in the championship with 356 points, achieving three victories from 13 podiums during the 2024 season.

2024: Torchbearer for the Monégasque leg ahead of the Summer Olympics

In 2024, Charles Leclerc served as a torchbearer for the Monégasque leg ahead of the Summer Olympics, alongside Alexandra Coletti, Xiaoxin Yang, Rudy Rinaldi, Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene. Also in 2024, he purchased a US$3.1 million condominium in Miami.

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 also achieved victories in Italy and the United States, finishing third in the championship.

2024: Tribute Helmets

In 2024, Leclerc wore a tribute helmet to Jules Bianchi at the Japanese Grand Prix and a tribute for departing teammate Carlos Sainz Jr. at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

February 2025: Two-Sided Single Release

In February 2025, Charles Leclerc released a two-sided single titled "MC24 / SIN24", featuring compositions from the Monaco and Singapore Grands Prix in 2024.

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2025: Achieved Racing Statistics

As of the 2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc has achieved eight race wins, 26 pole positions, 10 fastest laps, and 44 podiums in Formula One.

2025: Partnership with Lewis Hamilton

In 2025, Charles Leclerc is partnered by seven-time World Drivers' Champion Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari. He expressed his readiness to win the championship before the 2025 season.