Charles Leclerc has shared details on how he surprised his older brother, Lorenzo, with a drive in his 2019 Ferrari Formula 1 car at Paul Ricard.
During the F1 summer break, Lorenzo shared a behind-the-scenes look at the occasion on social media, thanking his younger brothers, Charles and Arthur, for setting it all up.
“Did not expect to start this week driving an F1! Thanks to these two Charles Leclerc & Arthur Leclerc,” the eldest Leclerc brother wrote on Instagram. “Amazing feeling and unforgettable experience surrounded by the best.”
“It was very, very special because I had to keep that secret from the first day I started to organise that day,” Charles explained to Motorsport.com and other media ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix.
“I didn’t want him to know that he would drive my Formula 1 car, otherwise he wouldn’t have slept the night before. So I told him we were going karting in Paul Ricard.
“At the end, it ended up being a slightly different day because he jumped in my Formula 1 car from 2019. And it was very, very special. He loved it.
“I mean, he did karting for many years. He didn’t drive single-seater and he was actually pretty fast and pretty at ease. So, it was nice. It was an unforgettable day for him, but also I think for the whole family.”
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Photo by: Clive Rose / Formula 1 via Getty Images
F1 returns after the three-week summer break this weekend for the Dutch Grand Prix. Ferrari team chief Fred Vasseur is confident that both Leclerc and his team-mate Lewis Hamilton are “ready”.
“We’re back on track after the summer break, which gave the team and the drivers a chance to recharge, ready to face a very busy final part of the season,” the Frenchman explained in the Ferrari preview.
“In the Netherlands, we want to maintain the positive momentum built up over the past few races, where we made progress in terms of competitiveness. Charles and Lewis are ready, and the team is fully focused, determined to put them in the best possible position to get some good results.
“This weekend, that means starting right from qualifying, which is particularly crucial at Zandvoort, given how difficult overtaking can be at this track.”
Leclerc currently sits fifth in the 2025 drivers’ standings with 151 points, trailing championship leader Oscar Piastri by 133 points.
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