History of Charles Leclerc in Timeline
Charles Leclerc is a Monégasque racing driver currently competing in Formula One for Ferrari. He achieved the runner-up position in the Formula One World Drivers' Championship in 2022. Throughout his eight seasons in the sport, Leclerc has secured eight Grand Prix victories, establishing himself as a prominent figure in Formula One racing.
2 days ago : Ferrari's Struggles Continue in Bahrain GP; Hamilton Expresses Regret for Leclerc.
Ferrari faced ongoing challenges at the Bahrain GP, leading to Hamilton's apology. Piastri secured pole position while Verstappen finished seventh. Hamilton's Ferrari transition faces difficulty.
1931: Monaco Grand Prix Win
In 2024, Charles Leclerc won the Monaco Grand Prix, becoming the first Monégasque driver to win the event since Louis Chiron in 1931 in the Formula One World Championship.
1950: First Monégasque driver to score points since Louis Chiron in 1950
In 2018, Leclerc became the first Monégasque driver to score points in Formula One since Louis Chiron in 1950.
1976: Original French Short Film
In 2020, 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—where he lapped the Circuit de Monaco in a Ferrari SF90 Stradale.
1980: Ferrari's Lowest Constructors' Championship Finish Since 1980
In 2020, Ferrari finished sixth in the World Constructors' Championship, marking their lowest position since 1980, highlighting a challenging season for the team.
1994: First Monégasque driver to compete in Formula One since Olivier Beretta in 1994
In 2018, Leclerc became the first Monégasque driver to compete in Formula One since Olivier Beretta in 1994, marking a historical moment for Monégasque participation in the sport.
October 1997: Charles Leclerc's Birth
Charles Marc Hervé Perceval Leclerc was born in Monte Carlo, Monaco, on 16 October 1997. His father was a racing driver, and his mother operated a hair salon.
2005: Started Racing Career
Charles Leclerc began his competitive racing career in 2005, 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 title 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
Charles Leclerc has been partnered with Swiss luxury watch company Richard Mille since 2009, who supported him through his kart racing and junior formulae career.
2009: Won French Championship and Bridgestone Cup
In 2009, Charles Leclerc progressed to the Cadet class, winning the French Championship and Bridgestone Cup, as well as the regional Rhône-Alpes title. He also partnered with Richard Mille.
2010: International Karting Competition
In 2010, Charles Leclerc entered international karting competition in the junior KF3 class, becoming the youngest winner of the CIK-FIA Monaco Kart Cup.
2010: First Ferrari winner at Monza since Fernando Alonso
In 2019, Charles Leclerc won the Italian Grand Prix from pole, becoming the first Ferrari winner at Monza since Fernando Alonso in 2010.
2011: Won World Cup at Sarno
In 2011, Charles Leclerc won the World Cup at Sarno and joined Nicolas Todt's All Road Management firm, further winning the Academy Trophy and the Masters of Paris-Bercy.
2011: Karting World Cup victory
In 2011, Charles Leclerc won the junior direct-drive Karting World Cup, marking a significant achievement in his early racing career.
2012: WSK Euro Series Win
In 2012, racing with ART Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc won the WSK Euro Series in the senior KF2 category, amidst an incident with Max Verstappen, also finishing runner-up in the Karting European Championship and the under-18 Karting World Championship.
2013: Progressed to the 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 to Verstappen 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. He achieved his maiden podium finish in the second race at Pau and finished runner-up to Nyck de Vries in the Alps Series.
December 2015: GP3 Testing and Ferrari Driver Academy
In December 2015, Charles Leclerc participated in post-season GP3 testing with ART and Arden, eventually signing with ART for the 2016 GP3 Series. He also joined the Ferrari Driver Academy.
2015: Graduation to Formula Three
In 2015, Charles Leclerc graduated to Formula Three, contesting FIA European F3 with Van Amersfoort Racing. He clinched second in race two followed by his maiden victory amidst a race-long battle with Antonio Giovinazzi at Silverstone.
2015: Graduation to FIA European Formula 3
In 2015, Charles Leclerc graduated to the FIA European Formula 3, achieving several race wins and finishing fourth in his rookie season.
2015: Death of Jules Bianchi
In 2015, Jules Bianchi, who was Charles Leclerc's godfather and mechanic in kart racing, passed away.
2016: GP3 Series Debut and Victory
In 2016, Charles Leclerc debuted in the GP3 Series with ART, qualifying third at Catalunya and winning his debut race by over six seconds.
2016: Joined Ferrari Driver Academy and signed as development driver
In 2016, Charles Leclerc joined the Ferrari Driver Academy and was signed as a development driver for both Haas and Ferrari. He also made his testing debut at Fiorano, driving the Ferrari F14 T. As part of his role at Haas, he participated in the first free practice sessions of the British, Hungarian, German and Brazilian Grands Prix. He completed his first official test for Ferrari at Silverstone in the SF16-H after his performance at the British Grand Prix impressed the team.
2016: GP3 Series Championship win
In 2016, Charles Leclerc won the GP3 Series Championship with ART, showcasing his talent in single-seater racing.
2017: Formula 2 Debut and Victory
In 2017, Charles Leclerc progressed to FIA Formula 2 with Prema. He took pole position for the feature race at Sakhir, where he finished third. He also secured his maiden F2 victory in the reverse-grid sprint race with an uncommon mid-race pit stop.
2017: Formula 2 Championship Win
In 2017, Charles Leclerc won the Formula 2 Championship. He achieved his eighth pole of the season at Jerez and held off a late charge by Rowland to become the youngest GP2/Formula 2 champion. Leclerc was also named FIA Rookie of the Year.
2017: Father's Death and Baku Victory
In 2017, Charles Leclerc's father, Hervé, passed away shortly before Leclerc won the feature race at the Baku Formula 2 round. Leclerc dedicated the pole position in Baku to his father.
2017: Participated in mid-season test at Hungaroring with Ferrari
In 2017, Leclerc participated in the mid-season test at the Hungaroring with Ferrari, driving the SF70H, completing 98 laps and setting the fastest lap on the first day. Kimi Räikkönen praised Leclerc's performance. He also completed further free practice sessions with Sauber at the Malaysian, United States, Mexican and Brazilian Grands Prix.
2018: Signing with Sauber
Charles Leclerc signed a Formula One contract with Sauber in 2018, after lying to his father about it prior to his death.
2018: Debut in Formula One and First Points
In 2018, Charles Leclerc debuted in Formula One at the Australian Grand Prix, becoming the first Monégasque driver since 1994 to compete in the sport. He finished thirteenth. At the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, he finished sixth, becoming the first Monégasque driver since 1950 to score points in Formula One.
2018: Formula One Debut with Sauber
In 2018, Charles Leclerc made his Formula One debut with Sauber, a part of the Ferrari Driver Academy, achieving several points finishes in the C37.
2018: Named Ambassador for 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: Entered post-season test with Ferrari at Yas Marina
In 2018, Leclerc entered the post-season test with Ferrari at Yas Marina and set the fastest time in the SF71H, marking a successful start to his Ferrari journey.
2019: Initial Reaction to Overtaking Maneuvers
After ceding the lead of the 2019 Austrian Grand Prix to Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc claimed his move was "not the way you overtake" and that he would adjust his aggression going forward. He then had a hard-fought contest with Verstappen for third at the following race.
2019: Youngest Recipient of FIA Pole Trophy
Charles Leclerc became the youngest recipient of the FIA Pole Trophy in 2019 for achieving the most pole positions.
2019: Penalized for Collision with Verstappen
Charles Leclerc was penalised for causing a collision with Verstappen at the 2019 Japanese Grand Prix.
2019: Victory since 2019.
Charles Leclerc won a grand prix in 2022. It was Ferrari's first victory since 2019.
2019: Relationship with Charlotte Siné
From 2019, Charles Leclerc was in a relationship with Monégasque architect and influencer Charlotte Siné, daughter of the then-director general of the Société des Bains de Mer de Monaco.
2019: Launch of Go-Kart Brand
In 2019, Charles Leclerc launched his own go-kart brand, as part of a collaboration with Birel ART.
2019: Joins Ferrari and becomes second-youngest polesitter at Bahrain Grand Prix
In 2019, Charles Leclerc partnered with Sebastian Vettel at Ferrari, becoming the second-youngest polesitter in Formula One history at the Bahrain Grand Prix.
2019: Signed for Ferrari and Maiden Pole Position
In 2019, Charles Leclerc signed for Ferrari, partnering with Sebastian Vettel. At the Bahrain Grand Prix in 2019, Leclerc took his maiden pole position, becoming the second-youngest polesitter in Formula One history. He secured his maiden podium finish after finishing third due to an engine issue.
2019: Leclerc secured a surprise pole position at his home Grand Prix in Monaco
In 2021, Leclerc secured a surprise pole position at his home Grand Prix in Monaco—his first since the 2019 Mexican Grand Prix
2019: Ferrari's First Home Win
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.
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: Starred in Le Grand Rendez-vous
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—where he lapped the Circuit de Monaco in a Ferrari SF90 Stradale.
2020: Criticism for Race-Ending Mistakes
Charles Leclerc was criticised for race-ending mistakes throughout his early seasons in Formula One, particularly at the 2020 Italian and Sakhir Grands Prix, as well as the 2022 French Grand Prix.
2020: Tribute Helmet for Sebastian 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 Italian fashion house Giorgio Armani.
2020: Winless Season
In 2020, Charles Leclerc experienced a winless season with Ferrari.
2020: Listed as Seventh-Fastest Formula One Driver
In 2020, a study by Amazon Web Services listed Charles Leclerc as the seventh-fastest Formula One driver of all time.
2020: COVID-19 Pandemic Shortens Season
The 2020 Formula 1 season was delayed and shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Ferrari struggled for performance with the SF1000.
2021: Sainz Jr. Proclaims Leclerc Best Qualifier
After Charles Leclerc's 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
In 2021, Charles Leclerc had another winless season with Ferrari.
2021: Partnered with Carlos Sainz Jr. at Ferrari
In 2021, Charles Leclerc was partnered by Carlos Sainz Jr. at Ferrari for his campaign.
2021: Praised for Overtake on Bottas
In 2021, Charles 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: Acclaim for Battle with Verstappen and Battle with Hamilton
Charles Leclerc received acclaim for his battle with Verstappen at the 2022 Bahrain Grand Prix, noted for his effective use of the drag reduction system. He was also 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: Runner-up in the Formula One World Drivers' Championship
In 2022, Charles Leclerc finished as runner-up in the Formula One World Drivers' Championship while driving for Ferrari.
2022: Repeated FIA Pole Trophy Win
In 2022, Charles Leclerc repeated his feat of winning the FIA Pole Trophy for achieving the most pole positions.
2022: Runner-up in World Drivers' Championship
In 2022, Charles Leclerc took several victories and finished runner-up to Max Verstappen in the World Drivers' Championship.
2022: End of relationship with Charlotte Siné
In 2022, Charles Leclerc's relationship with Monégasque architect and influencer Charlotte Siné ended.
2022: Brother's Championship Win
In 2022, Charles Leclerc's younger brother, Arthur, won the Formula Regional Asian Championship.
2022: Azerbaijan Grand Prix Pole Lap
In 2022, Laurence Edmondson of ESPN described Charles Leclerc's pole lap at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix as his "latest example of his pinpoint precision and masterful speed".
2022: First Victory Since 2019 and Championship Lead
In 2022, Leclerc qualified on pole position for the Bahrain Grand Prix and won the race, marking his and Ferrari's first victory since 2019. The result made him the first Monégasque driver to lead the World Drivers' Championship.
2022: Voice Acting Debut in Lightyear
In 2022, in partnership with Ferrari, Charles Leclerc made his voice acting debut in the Italian-language version of Pixar's Toy Story animated spin-off film Lightyear.
2022: Maurizio Arrivabene stated that his contract would run until 2022
Then-team principal Maurizio Arrivabene stated that Leclerc's contract would run until 2022.
April 2023: Release of Debut Single AUS23 (1:1)
In April 2023, Charles Leclerc released his debut piano-composed single "AUS23 (1:1)", referencing the 2023 Australian Grand Prix.
2023: Five Pole Positions and Six Podiums
In 2023, Charles Leclerc achieved five pole positions and six podium finishes during his Formula One campaign.
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: Formula One Season
In 2023, Charles Leclerc experienced inconsistent race pace and tyre wear with Ferrari, while Red Bull dominated. He retired from the Bahrain Grand Prix due to a technical issue and faced grid penalties in Saudi Arabia. After retiring in Australia, he achieved pole position in Azerbaijan, finishing second in the sprint and third in the main race. Later in the season, he secured multiple pole positions, including in Belgium, and finished second in Las Vegas after a final-lap overtake. He ended the season fifth in the World Drivers' Championship with 206 points.
2023: Fastest Qualifier Amongst Drivers
In 2023, Martin Brundle opined that Charles Leclerc was the fastest qualifier amongst the drivers.
2023: Controversy Over Gilles Villeneuve Helmet Design
In 2023, controversy arose over Charles Leclerc's Gilles Villeneuve helmet design for the Canadian Grand Prix, after the Villeneuve family claimed he did not ask for permission; Jacques Villeneuve permitted it after talking to Leclerc.
2023: Relationship with Alexandra Saint Mleux
Since 2023, Charles Leclerc has been in a relationship with Italian model and art historian Alexandra Saint Mleux.
February 2024: Release of Dreamers EP
In February 2024, Charles Leclerc released his debut extended play, Dreamers, alongside French pianist Sofiane Pamart, which achieved chart success in multiple countries.
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.
2024: Racecraft Acclaim
Alex Kalinauckas of Autosport lauded Charles Leclerc's racecraft after the 2024 season, highlighting several instances of his defensive driving against faster machinery, as well as an overtake on George Russell at the Chinese Grand Prix. He was further acclaimed for his tyre management at the Italian Grand Prix.
2024: Extended Ferrari contract until the end of 2024
Charles Leclerc extended his Ferrari contract until the end of 2024, securing his future with the team.
2024: Collaboration with Sofiane Pamart on "Dreamers"
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: Formula One Season
In 2024, Charles Leclerc extended his contract with Ferrari. He secured a 1-2 finish with Carlos Sainz in Australia and won his home race, the Monaco Grand Prix for the first time. Throughout the season, he had multiple podium finishes and secured several pole positions, including in Belgium and Azerbaijan. Leclerc finished third in the championship with 356 points. He achieved three victories from 13 podiums.
2024: Torchbearer for the Monégasque Leg of the Summer Olympics
In 2024, Charles Leclerc served as a torchbearer for the Monégasque leg ahead of the 2024 Summer Olympics, alongside Alexandra Coletti, Xiaoxin Yang, Rudy Rinaldi, Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene. That year, 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 achieved further victories in Italy and the United States as he finished third in the championship.
2024: Tribute Helmet to Bianchi and Sainz Jr.
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 for departing teammate Carlos Sainz Jr. at the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
2025: Ongoing Achievements in Formula One
As of the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc has achieved eight race wins, 26 pole positions, 10 fastest laps, and 43 podiums in Formula One.
2025: Partnership with Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari
In 2025, Charles Leclerc is partnered with seven-time World Drivers' Champion Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari. Prior to the season, Leclerc stated he was "ready [to win] the championship".
2026: Contract Extension with Ferrari
Ahead of the 2024 season, Charles Leclerc opted to extend his contract with Ferrari beyond the 2026 regulation changes.
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