Charles Leclerc supports the Bianchi family after they suffered a devastating theft, where nine go-karts belonging to the late Jules Bianchi and his family were stolen, including his last raced kart. The crime took place earlier this week, and the family, along with the wider motorsport community, has been calling on anyone with information to help recover the missing items.
On Tuesday, Philippe Bianchi—father of the late Formula 1 driver—shared news of the theft, revealing that the family lost nine karts, among them Jules Bianchi’s final kart, a KZ 125 ART GP model. The thieves also took mini karts belonging to Jules’ grandsons, making the emotional toll even heavier. While the monetary value is significant, Philippe stressed that the true pain lies in the memories and history attached to these karts.
“Last night we were robbed and the unscrupulous thieves ran off with nine JB17 Forever chassis. Even worse, they stole Jules’ last kart, a KZ 125 ART GP model, as well as my grandsons’ mini karts. Apart from the value of the machines, it is the sentimental value that hurts us. If you see any JB17 karts in circulation, please let me know. Thank you in advance,” Philippe wrote.
The family has urgently requested anyone who spots a JB17 kart to contact them, hoping that community vigilance can help identify and return the stolen property.
Motorsport Community Reacts with Anger and Support
The news has been met with widespread distress from Formula 1 fans and the motorsport community, many of whom expressed outrage and support for the Bianchi family across social media platforms. The emotional response has included calls for justice and hopes for the karts’ return.
“I hope the thieves rot in jail. The go karts will come back where they belong,” wrote one fan.
“What an unbelievably low thing to do,” said another user.
“Thats ridiculous. Karma will catch up to them!,” said another fan.
“Motorsport community, let’s work together to find these,” urged one user.
“This world sucks,” said another fan.
“Absolutely disgusting, may these guys face punishment for their actions,” said yet another user.
This demonstrates a strong sense of solidarity within the motorsport world, as fans and insiders unite to support Philippe Bianchi after his heartbreaking loss.
Leclerc Shares the Appeal, Honors Bianchi’s Legacy
Charles Leclerc, the Ferrari driver who has always credited Jules Bianchi as a mentor and godfather, further amplified the call for help. Leclerc reshared Philippe Bianchi’s appeal to his own substantial following via Instagram, underlining the importance of the sentimental loss and urging the racing community to aid the family’s recovery efforts.
Bianchi debuted in Formula 1 with Marussia in 2013, and his promising career was unfortunately cut short following a fatal accident at the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix. He passed away in 2015, leaving a lasting impact on F1 safety standards. In tribute to Bianchi’s memory, Leclerc regularly honors his legacy both in word and with special crash helmet designs. On what would have been the 10th anniversary of Bianchi’s death in 2025, Leclerc shared heartfelt memories, describing Bianchi as the most competitive person he knew and attributing much of his own drive to his godfather’s influence.
The Broader Importance for Fans and F1
Jules Bianchi’s death led to one of Formula 1’s most significant safety innovations: the introduction of the Halo in 2018, credited with saving lives since its adoption. The theft of such treasured memorabilia is not only painful for the Bianchi family but resonates throughout the motorsport community, which views these artifacts as integral pieces of racing history.
With Charles Leclerc and the larger motorsport community rallying to bring attention to the stolen karts, there is hope that increased awareness will lead to their return and closure for the Bianchi family. The incident has reminded many of the profound legacy left by Jules Bianchi, uniting fans, teams, and drivers in a time of distress and outrage.
