Leclerc reflects on life under the spotlight
Charles Leclerc, the Ferrari driver, has spoken candidly about the weight of fame, which he has experienced in three distinct phases since entering Formula 1. The Monegasque driver also stated that separating race results from personal life is simply impossible.
Charles Leclerc is one of the most beloved drivers on the grid. The Monegasque is incredibly talented but has not yet had the chance to fight for a Formula 1 World Championship title. Despite this, Ferrari fans adore him. His popularity is global, and there are moments when he wishes he could be less visible. In an interview, he revealed that he has experienced three phases of fame: “Today my life has totally changed. I would like more privacy, even just to spend time with my mother.”
The three phases of fame for Charles Leclerc
The 28-year-old driver, in an interview with ‘Racer,’ broke down his F1 career into three phases. The first phase was at the start of his career in 2018 when he debuted with Alfa Romeo: “I wasn’t really anyone yet, people didn’t recognize me. The first year in Formula 1 is like that, you feel a little frozen.”
Then things changed. He became a Ferrari driver and entered a whole new world: “You get stopped more often, and at first you like it. You think, ‘Ok, I’ve always dreamed of being in this position, being a Formula 1 driver, and in particular a Ferrari driver. This experience is special.’”
“The third phase is when I wish I had a little privacy”
Charles Leclerc’s status continued to grow, and his popularity solidified. He became an idol, and while he accepts this level of fame without complaint, it sometimes feels overwhelming. “The third phase is when I might want a little more privacy on certain things. But in the end, I’m so lucky to do what I love. I’m in the team I’ve always dreamed of driving for, and I have so much support everywhere. Even if there’s a little less privacy. Or, you can have privacy, but you need to organize yourself much better than when I had a normal life! But it has so many positives that it’s not a problem, and I can’t complain. My life has totally changed.”
“Sometimes I just want to spend time with my mother”
Charles Leclerc also noted that his fame can make simple family moments challenging: “Sometimes it’s more like I want to spend time with my mother, have a normal life. Right now, all of this is a bit difficult. The engagement news, however, wasn’t so private—we shared that ourselves.”
Finally, he reflected on the essence of his ‘job,’ which for him is not really a job: “It’s not easy for someone in Formula 1 to separate results from personal life. I don’t talk about ‘work’ because I’ve always loved driving. And when you’re passionate about something, like racing for me, you live those moments to the fullest. So if I have a bad race, I go home feeling down, while if I have a great race, I go home happier. In any case, the main goal is always to start again.”
Charles Leclerc’s candid reflection on his journey through fame highlights the complex balance between living his childhood dream at Ferrari and the longing for simple, private moments with family that his global stardom now makes difficult.
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