Charles Leclerc recently gave his older brother, Lorenzo, an extraordinary surprise by letting him drive his 2019 Ferrari Formula 1 car at the Paul Ricard circuit. This unforgettable experience occurred during the F1 summer break, creating lasting memories for the Leclerc family and highlighting Charles’s close bond with his siblings.
Lorenzo took to social media to share a glimpse of this special day, expressing gratitude to his younger brothers, Charles and Arthur, for organizing the event. His excitement about driving an F1 car was clear as he described the occasion as both amazing and unforgettable.
The Secret Planning Behind the Surprise
Charles revealed to Motorsport.com that keeping the surprise was a major part of the day’s significance. He intentionally kept Lorenzo in the dark about the true nature of the outing to maintain the surprise and avoid ruining the excitement beforehand. Charles told his brother they were simply going karting at Paul Ricard to keep expectations low.
In reality, the day ended with Lorenzo behind the wheel of Charles’s 2019 Formula 1 car. Charles described the event as very special, emphasizing how much Lorenzo enjoyed the experience. Despite extensive karting experience, Lorenzo had never driven a single-seater racing car before, but he handled the Ferrari F1 with remarkable speed and confidence.
“Did not expect to start this week driving an F1! Thanks to these two Charles Leclerc & Arthur Leclerc,”
—Lorenzo Leclerc, Charles’s older brother
“Amazing feeling and unforgettable experience surrounded by the best.”
—Lorenzo Leclerc, Charles’s older brother
“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 driver
“It was very, very special because I had to keep that secret from the first day I started to organise that day,”
—Charles Leclerc, Ferrari driver
Ferrari’s Outlook as F1 Resumes in the Netherlands
Following the three-week summer break, Formula 1 action resumes with the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort. Ferrari’s team principal, Fred Vasseur, expressed confidence in Charles Leclerc and teammate Lewis Hamilton as they prepare for the critical final stages of the season.
Vasseur stressed the importance of starting strong right from qualifying at Zandvoort, a track known for its difficulty in overtaking. The team aims to build on recent improvements in competitiveness to achieve solid results in the demanding closing races of the year.
“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,”
—Fred Vasseur, Ferrari team principal
“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.”
—Fred Vasseur, Ferrari team principal
“This weekend, that means starting right from qualifying, which is particularly crucial at Zandvoort, given how difficult overtaking can be at this track.”
—Fred Vasseur, Ferrari team principal
Current Championship Standing and Future Prospects
As the season unfolds, Charles Leclerc sits fifth in the drivers‘ standings with 151 points, trailing championship leader Oscar Piastri by 133 points. While the gap is significant, Leclerc’s determination and the team’s ongoing development offer hope for strong finishes in this intense phase of the championship.
The surprise Ferrari F1 test drive with his brother not only provided a memorable family moment but also highlighted Charles Leclerc’s passion and commitment as he heads into the season’s critical closing races, driven by both personal and professional motivation.
