This man is considered the most handsome driver in the F1 paddock, nicknamed Ferrari’s Crown Prince. He carries an air of melancholy and fragility—but once you learn about his past, you’ll understand why.
This article unlocks the story of Ferrari’s “Prince of Sorrow,” Charles Leclerc. In March 2019 at the Bahrain Grand Prix, 22-year-old Leclerc earned his first pole position for Ferrari, becoming the second youngest driver in F1 history to do so. What moved him most was a message posted on social media by Philippe Bianchi, who said: “This pole belongs to Charles, but even more to my brother Hervé.” The photo he shared showed Leclerc’s late father, Hervé, once an F3 driver, raising his arms in joy from beyond the grave.
Philippe was not only Hervé’s friend but also the father of former F1 driver Jules Bianchi, a name that holds deep meaning for Leclerc. Charles quickly replied: “This pole is also for Jules, my godfather.”
Born in Monaco in 1997, Leclerc wasn’t interested in school, but his father didn’t scold him—instead, Hervé took him to the racetrack. From the first moment Charles saw the cars, he told his father he wanted to become a racer. Through his father and Philippe, he met Jules Bianchi, who became his mentor and racing godfather.
Despite their brotherly bond, Leclerc always called Jules his “godfather.” With Jules’s guidance and his father as his personal mechanic, Charles dominated karting circuits—until he met a rival named Max Verstappen. The two clashed on track and even exchanged heated words, a rivalry that foreshadowed their future F1 duels.
In 2014, Jules suffered a devastating crash and passed away nine months later. The loss of his godfather broke Charles’s heart, and he vowed to carry Jules’s legacy into F1. But before his dream came true, tragedy struck again—his father Hervé died of illness. On his deathbed, Charles told him a white lie: that he had already signed with an F1 team, so his father could pass peacefully. That lie stayed with him until 2024, when Charles finally won the Monaco Grand Prix at his home race. With tears streaming down his face, he admitted the truth—fulfilling both his father’s and godfather’s dream, exactly ten years after Jules’s death.
Recently, at the Hungarian GP, Leclerc finally broke his infamous “P4 curse” and took Ferrari’s first pole of the season. With this milestone, fans believe he can secure more poles and maybe victories this year.
From his first F1 victory against Hamilton, to his rivalry with Verstappen, to carrying the weight of Ferrari’s legacy as the “Crown Prince,” Charles’s path has been filled with struggles and heartbreak. Now, alongside Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari, he is determined to restore the Scuderia’s glory. His future remains wide open, but his journey has already been marked by loss, resilience, and the spirit of a true racing soul.
🛒 Shop Now & Choose your F1 Model！
