Charles Leclerc explains how he discovered his passion for racing. Charles on how he discovered his passion for racing.

At the time of his interview for L’Officiel Italia Winter Issue 2021, Scuderia Ferrari Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc was behind the wheel of his Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio – “a beautiful car, agile, aggressive even if I drive relaxed on normal roads” – a trip which started from Maranello to his home in Monaco, for a short break before leaving for the Mexican Grand Prix.

Who chose to call you Perceval?
Charles Leclerc: My father, perhaps he imagined his children as the legendary Knights of the Round Table. I have two younger brothers, both are taking their first steps in the competitive world of motorsport, and above all Arthur, has speed in his blood.

Maybe one day together with Ferrari?
CL: It would be a dream, but for now I want him to grow independently, to discover his path, the circuit is a difficult world, so much so he knows that if he ever needs it, I will always be by his side.

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When did you discover your passion for this profession?
CL: I was four years old and one day I told my father Hervé that I wasn’t feeling well and didn’t want to go to kindergarten. I don’t know why, he believed it and took me with him to the go-kart track of his best friend, Philippe Bianchi. (Father of Jules Bianchi, who died in 2015 on the Suzuka track, the first driver to die after Ayrton Senna, ed.). When I saw other children running on the track, I asked my father if I could try. For my first car I chose red, and after three laps I fell in love with this sport, I couldn’t understand the concept of braking. On those tracks I started dreaming of becoming a driver, then growing up I realized that I could make my dream come true and turn it into a job opportunity.

LOI: Are you ever afraid?
CL: Honestly … I felt scared in 2017 when I thought I could not be able to become a Formula 1 driver. (Leclerc won the GP3 series championship in 2016; FIA Formula 2 in 2017 to make his F1 debut with the Alfa Romeo Sauber the following year, in 2018, while also being part of the Ferrari Driver Academy). Never afraid of speed, the day I will be afraid, I will immediately stop racing, because living in fear is half living.