History of Charles Leclerc in Timeline
"Charles Leclerc is a Monégasque racing driver currently competing in Formula One for Ferrari."
1931: 1931 Monaco Grand Prix
In a historic victory at the 2022 Monaco Grand Prix, Leclerc became the first Monégasque driver since Louis Chiron in 1931 to win his home race. This triumph marked his sixth career win in Formula One.
1950: First Monégasque Grand Prix Winner
During the 2019 season, Leclerc became the first Monégasque driver to win a Formula One World Championship Grand Prix. While Louis Chiron had won several Grands Prix before the inaugural championship in 1950, Leclerc's victory marked a historic moment for Monaco in Formula One.
1950: Following in the Footsteps of Louis Chiron
Leclerc's points finish at the 2018 Azerbaijan Grand Prix drew parallels to Louis Chiron's podium finish at the 1950 Monaco Grand Prix, showcasing Leclerc's continuation of the Monégasque legacy in Formula One.
1976: Le Grand Rendez-vous
Leclerc showcased his versatility by appearing in the 2020 film "Le Grand Rendez-vous," a remake of the 1976 French short film "C'était un rendez-vous."
1994: First Monégasque Driver since Olivier Beretta
Leclerc's debut in 2018 marked the return of a Monégasque driver to Formula One since Olivier Beretta's participation in 1994, highlighting the significance of Leclerc's presence.
October 1997: Birth
Charles Leclerc was born in October 1997. His father, Hervé, was also a race car driver.
2005: Begins Karting and Wins French PACA Championship
Leclerc started his karting career and won the French PACA Championship.
2006: Second French PACA Championship Win
Leclerc won the French PACA Championship for the second time.
2007: Replacing a World Champion
Leclerc's signing with Ferrari for the 2019 season saw him replace 2007 World Champion Kimi Räikkönen, highlighting the team's confidence in his abilities.
2008: Third French PACA Championship Win
Leclerc secured his third French PACA Championship victory.
2009: French Cadet Champion
In 2009, Leclerc became the French Cadet champion.
2009: Nico Hülkenberg Wins Championship as a Rookie
Nico Hülkenberg became the first driver since 2009 to win the championship in his rookie season.
2010: First Ferrari Victory at Monza Since 2010
At the 2019 Italian Grand Prix, Leclerc's win from pole position marked the first time a Ferrari driver had won at Monza since Fernando Alonso's victory for the team in 2010, signifying a special moment for both Leclerc and Ferrari.
2010: Junior Monaco Kart Cup Champion
Leclerc won the Junior Monaco Kart Cup in the KF3 class.
2010: 2010 Formula One Season
Leclerc's win at the 2019 Australian Grand Prix marked Ferrari's first grand slam since the 2010 Singapore Grand Prix.
2011: Junior Direct-Drive Karting World Cup Champion
In 2011, Leclerc won the Junior Direct-Drive Karting World Cup, a significant accomplishment in his karting career.
2011: Joins All Road Management and Wins Multiple Championships
Leclerc joined Nicolas Todt's All Road Management company and went on to win the CIK-FIA KF3 World Cup, the CIK-FIA Karting Academy Trophy, and the ERDF Junior Kart Masters in the KF3 class.
2012: Joins ART Grand Prix and Wins WSK Euro Series Title
Leclerc joined the factory-backed ART Grand Prix team in the KF2 category. This year, he won the WSK Euro Series title and was runner-up in the CIK-FIA European KF2 Championship and CIK-FIA Under 18 World Karting Championship.
2013: Wins South Garda Winter Cup and Second in World Championship
Leclerc won the South Garda Winter Cup, finished sixth in the CIK-FIA European KZ Championship, and was runner-up to Max Verstappen in the CIK-FIA World KZ Championship.
2014: Matches Pole Position Record
Leclerc equaled Stoffel Vandoorne's record from 2014 and 2015 for the most consecutive pole positions in Formula 2 (when it was known as the GP2 Series). He accomplished this by securing his sixth consecutive pole position at Silverstone.
2014: Runner-up in Formula Renault 2.0 Alps Championship
Leclerc made his single-seater racing debut in the Formula Renault 2.0 Alps championship. He achieved seven podium finishes with British team Fortec Motorsports, including a double victory at Monza, and finished the championship as runner-up to Nyck de Vries.
2014: Godfather's Death
Leclerc's godfather, Jules Bianchi, passed away.
November 2015: Second Place at Macau Grand Prix
Leclerc secured a second-place finish at the Macau Grand Prix.
December 2015: Post-Season Testing
Following the conclusion of the season, Leclerc participated in testing with ART Grand Prix and Arden International.
2015: Enters FIA Formula 3 European Championship
Leclerc progressed to Formula Three, racing in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship for Dutch team Van Amersfoort Racing. He earned his first win at the third race of the opening weekend at Silverstone. His success continued with a second victory at Hockenheim and a third victory at Spa-Francorchamps, where he took the lead in the championship. However, due to damage sustained to his car after a collision with Lance Stroll at Zandvoort, Leclerc ultimately finished fourth in the standings.
2015: Stoffel Vandoorne Sets Pole Position Record
Stoffel Vandoorne set the record for the most consecutive pole positions in Formula 2.
February 2016: Signs with ART Grand Prix
It was confirmed that Leclerc would compete in the 2016 GP3 season, and he signed with ART Grand Prix the following week.
2016: Joins Ferrari Driver Academy
Leclerc joined the Ferrari Driver Academy as a development driver for Haas F1 Team and Scuderia Ferrari. In this role, he drove for Haas in the first practice sessions of the British and German Grands Prix.
2016: GP3 Series Champion
Leclerc won his first championship in 2016 at the GP3 Series with ART Grand Prix.
2017: Graduates to Formula 2
After winning the GP3 title race, it was announced that Leclerc would move up to the Formula 2 series for the 2017 season. He joined Prema Racing alongside Antonio Fuoco, another GP3 racer and Ferrari junior driver.
2017: Expected to Progress to Formula 2
Haas team principal Guenther Steiner indicated that Leclerc would likely progress to the FIA Formula 2 Championship in 2017.
2017: Mid-Season Test at Hungaroring
In 2017, Charles Leclerc participated in the mid-season test at the Hungaroring, driving the Ferrari SF70H. He impressed by setting the fastest time on the first day and completing 98 laps. Kimi Räikkönen praised Leclerc's performance, acknowledging his progress and predicting great things for him in the future.
2017: FIA Formula 2 Champion
In 2017, Leclerc won the FIA Formula 2 Championship with Prema Racing. This made him the fourth driver to win the GP2/Formula 2 championship in their rookie season.
2017: Father's Death
In 2017, just four days before Leclerc won the feature race at the Baku Formula 2 round, his father passed away after a long illness at age 54.
November 2018: First Test as a Ferrari Race Driver
In November 2018, Charles Leclerc participated in the end-of-season test as an official Ferrari race driver, marking a significant step in his career.
2018: Formula One Debut with Sauber
Leclerc made his Formula One racing debut in 2018 with Sauber. As part of the Ferrari Driver Academy, he helped Sauber improve from last place the previous year to eighth place.
2018: Ambassador for the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation
Leclerc's commitment to philanthropy led him to become an ambassador for the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation in 2018, where he played an active role in promoting the importance of water safety and swimming education.
2018: First Points Finish as a Monégasque Driver
At the 2018 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc secured a sixth-place finish, becoming only the second Monégasque driver to score points in Formula One. This achievement followed Louis Chiron's third-place finish at the 1950 Monaco Grand Prix.
2018: Signs with Sauber
Leclerc signed with Sauber for the 2018 Formula One season.
2019: 2019 Formula One Season
Leclerc achieved his first Formula One victory and led the championship for the first time in 2019. He started the season strong with a pole position and win in Bahrain, followed by a dominant victory in Australia, securing his first grand slam in Formula One. However, his championship hopes were hampered by a power unit issue in Spain and strategic errors in Monaco. A power unit failure in Azerbaijan further dented his title aspirations. Despite these setbacks, Leclerc secured his first Monaco Grand Prix pole position that year.
2019: FIA Pole Position Trophy
Leclerc's exceptional qualifying pace has been a defining characteristic of his career. He holds the record for the most pole positions without a corresponding World Championship title. His preference for a car with oversteer and his consistently strong one-lap pace have contributed to this record. In recognition of his achievements, he received the FIA pole position trophy for securing the most qualifying poles in the 2019 season.
2019: 2019 Italian Grand Prix
Leclerc's win at the 2024 Italian Grand Prix marked Ferrari's first home win since he won in 2019.
2019: Joins Ferrari and Wins First Race
In 2019, Leclerc joined Ferrari to partner with Sebastian Vettel. At the Bahrain Grand Prix, he became the second-youngest driver to qualify on pole position in Formula One. This year, he also had his first career win in Belgium and ended Ferrari's nine-year drought at the Italian Grand Prix.
2019: Signing with Scuderia Ferrari
Charles Leclerc joined Scuderia Ferrari for the 2019 season, replacing 2007 World Champion Kimi Räikkönen, who moved to Sauber (later rebranded as Alfa Romeo).
2019: Fourth Place in the Championship
Charles Leclerc finished the 2019 Formula One season in fourth place with 264 points, surpassing his teammate Sebastian Vettel. His performance, which included ten podium finishes, two wins, four fastest laps, and a season-leading seven pole positions, solidified his position as a rising star in the sport.
2020: Response to Racism Accusations
Ahead of the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix at Silverstone, Leclerc addressed accusations of racism and opposition to the Black Lives Matter movement. He vehemently denied these claims, asserting that racism is "disgusting" and accusing headlines of distorting his words. Leclerc explained his decision not to take a knee during pre-race ceremonies, stating that he did so due to perceived negative political connotations associated with the gesture, rather than any opposition to the fight against racism.
2020: Second Place Finish at the Austrian Grand Prix
Despite struggling with pace throughout the race, Leclerc managed to recover to a second-place finish at the 2020 Austrian Grand Prix. His performance, which included key overtaking maneuvers on fresh tires after the final restart, highlighted his racecraft and adaptability.
2020: COVID-19 Pandemic Support
During the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Leclerc stepped up to support his community. He volunteered with the Red Cross of Monaco, directly contributing to relief efforts by delivering meals and transporting essential hospital equipment.
2020: Collision with Teammate at the Styrian Grand Prix
During the first lap of the 2020 Styrian Grand Prix, Leclerc collided with his teammate Sebastian Vettel, leading to both drivers retiring from the race. Although the stewards ruled it a racing incident and issued no penalties, Leclerc took full responsibility for the collision, expressing remorse for his actions.
2020: Giorgio Armani Endorsement
In 2020, Leclerc added another dimension to his profile by becoming an endorsement model for the luxury fashion house Giorgio Armani.
2020: Winless Season at Ferrari
In 2020, Leclerc and Ferrari did not see any race wins.
2020: COVID-19 Protocol Breach Investigation
Leclerc and Ferrari faced an FIA investigation for allegedly violating COVID-19 safety protocols. Social media posts showed Leclerc interacting with fans, friends, and his girlfriend after returning to Monaco (with team permission) between the Austrian and Styrian Grands Prix. Despite initially denying any wrongdoing, Leclerc and Ferrari received a warning for his contact with individuals outside his designated bubble.
2020: Crash at the Italian Grand Prix
Starting from thirteenth on the grid at the 2020 Italian Grand Prix, Leclerc was running in fourth place when he crashed out at Parabolica on lap 24. The incident, which occurred after Leclerc had pitted earlier than others during a Safety Car period, resulted in a red flag.
2021: New Teammate at Ferrari
The 2021 season saw Carlos Sainz Jr. join Ferrari as Leclerc's teammate, replacing Sebastian Vettel, who moved to Aston Martin.
2021: Second Winless Season at Ferrari
Leclerc and Ferrari completed their second winless season together.
2021: 2021 Formula One Season
In the 2021 Formula One season, Leclerc experienced both highs and lows. Notably, he was involved in a collision with Lance Stroll at the Hungarian Grand Prix, sidelining him from the race. He secured a fourth-place finish in Italy after Sergio Perez received a penalty. The Russian Grand Prix saw him starting from 19th due to grid penalties, momentarily reaching the top 5 before heavy rain forced him to finish fifteenth. He qualified fourth in Turkey, starting third after penalties were applied to Lewis Hamilton. In Abu Dhabi, a strategic error during a virtual safety car period cost him valuable track position, leading to a tenth-place finish. This race marked the first instance where Leclerc was outscored by a teammate in his entire car racing career, with Sainz's third-place finish propelling him ahead in the standings.
2022: First Career Grand Slam
At the 2022 Australian Grand Prix, Leclerc scored his first career grand slam.
2022: 2022 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
At the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in 2022, Leclerc battled Sergio Perez for second place in the Drivers' Championship. Starting third, he managed to overtake Perez and secure a second-place finish, securing both himself and Ferrari second place in their respective championships.
2022: 2022 Canadian Grand Prix
Leclerc and Sainz both experienced a disappointing qualifying session at the 2022 Canadian Grand Prix, failing to advance beyond Q2. This marked their first double retirement of the season, a result not seen for Ferrari since the Azerbaijan Grand Prix earlier in the year.
2022: 2022 Formula One Season
Leclerc began his 2022 season with a fourth-place finish after battling teammate Sainz. He achieved his first podium in Jeddah, securing second place with Ferrari junior driver Oliver Bearman replacing Sainz. The Australian Grand Prix saw Leclerc contribute to a Ferrari 1-2 finish, their first since the 2022 Bahrain Grand Prix. He continued his strong form with third-place finishes in Miami and Imola.
2022: Runner-Up in World Drivers' Championship
Leclerc finished second to Max Verstappen in the 2022 World Drivers' Championship.
2022: Lightyear Voice Acting
Leclerc lent his voice to the Italian-language dubbed version of Pixar's animated film "Lightyear" in 2022, showcasing his interest in expanding his horizons beyond the realm of motorsport.
2022: Four-Season Contract with Ferrari
While initially announced for 2019, it was later revealed that Leclerc's contract with Ferrari would span four seasons, extending until at least 2022, demonstrating their long-term commitment to him.
April 2023: AUS23 (1:1) Release
In April 2023, Charles Leclerc debuted his first single as a piano composer with the release of "AUS23 (1:1)", a song title referencing the Ferrari team's code name for the 2023 Australian Grand Prix.
2023: 2023 Formula One Season
Leclerc's 2023 Formula One season got off to a difficult start. He suffered a technical issue at the Bahrain Grand Prix, forcing him to retire while on course for a podium finish. At the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, he incurred a ten-place grid penalty due to a power unit component change, recovering to finish seventh. A collision with Lance Stroll at the Australian Grand Prix resulted in his second retirement of the season. However, Leclerc bounced back with his and Ferrari's first pole position of the year in Azerbaijan, converting it to podium finishes in both the sprint and main races.
2023: 2023 Belgian, United States and Mexico City Grand Prix
Leclerc secured his third podium of the 2023 season at the Belgian Grand Prix after starting from pole position. He repeated this feat at the United States Grand Prix but was later disqualified due to excessive wear on his car's skid blocks. At the Mexico City Grand Prix, Leclerc took pole position again. However, he collided with Sergio Pérez at the first corner, leading to Pérez's retirement, but went on to finish third.
2023: Emilia-Romagna Flood Relief Auction
Leclerc demonstrated his compassion and generosity in 2023 by auctioning off his Monaco Grand Prix helmet to raise funds for the victims of the devastating Emilia-Romagna floods. The auction raised a significant sum of €306,000, highlighting his dedication to supporting those in need.
2023: New Relationship
Leclerc began dating Alexandra Saint Mleux in 2023.
April 2024: Ice Cream Brand Launch
In April 2024, Charles Leclerc expanded his entrepreneurial ventures by launching his own brand of ice cream.
2024: Contract Extension with Ferrari
Ahead of the 2024 Formula 1 season, Leclerc signed a multi-year contract extension with Ferrari, solidifying his commitment to the team.
2024: Seven Race Wins
As of the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix, Leclerc has won seven races in Formula One.
2024: Contract Extension with Ferrari
At the start of the 2021 season, Charles Leclerc extended his contract with Ferrari, securing his place with the team until the end of 2024. This extension demonstrated Ferrari's ongoing faith in Leclerc's potential and commitment to building a successful future with him.
2024: Monaco Grand Prix Victory
Leclerc became the first Monégasque driver in 93 years to win the Monaco Grand Prix.
2024: 2024 Formula One Season
Leclerc demonstrated strategic prowess at the 2024 Dutch Grand Prix, capitalizing on a one-stop strategy to secure a podium finish from a less-than-ideal qualifying position. He carried this momentum to the Italian Grand Prix, where he implemented a similar one-pit stop strategy to claim victory, marking Ferrari's first home win since his triumph in 2019. Despite securing pole position at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, he was overtaken by Oscar Piastri during the race, ultimately finishing in second place.
2025: Lewis Hamilton Joins Ferrari
In a significant driver lineup change for 2025, seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton is set to join Ferrari on a multi-year contract, replacing Carlos Sainz Jr. as Leclerc's teammate.
2026: Contract with Ferrari
Leclerc is set to continue racing with Ferrari until at least the end of the 2026 season.