At Imola, there was a lot of bad luck, but F1 drivers know how to find comfort: Charles Leclerc went to McDonald’s in his Ferrari. The Monegasque, who finished sixth after a difficult weekend, was seen at a drive-thru of the famous American fast-food chain. After stopping for fans present there, he then headed to the highway, accompanied by his dog Leo and his girlfriend Alexandra Saint Mleux.
The first home Grand Prix for Ferrari is now behind them: disastrous on Saturday, unlucky on Sunday, disappointing overall. Lewis Hamilton’s fourth place – very happy after the race – is a small consolation for the Briton and Frédéric Vasseur. The other side of the garage, however, is not affected by this sudden positivity: Charles Leclerc wants to move on, although he is not very serene.
“I’m very frustrated,” the Monegasque admitted. “I know I put my heart into it and gave everything. I wanted to fit the soft tires at the end of the race, then Lewis came in and I would have lost more time. I have no regrets; I think I even helped him a bit. It’s true that we always say we need to understand, but in Formula 1 it’s always like this. We are trying many things but, for now, there is no solution.”
Charles Leclerc, a McDonald’s break before the Monaco GP
Looking ahead to another home Grand Prix, his, in Monte Carlo, Charles Leclerc does not seem particularly confident. The characteristics of the SF-25, after all, suggest another defensive weekend. Difficulties in qualifying could condemn the two Ferraris to a race in the middle of the pack, relying entirely on possible strategies with the mandatory double pit stop.
In short, he needs to find calm (if confidence, as the Monegasque pointed out, has not yet been lost). And if the track brings few joys and many pains, a cheeseburger can have better effects. So here he is, at the end of the Imola Grand Prix, heading to McDonald’s in his shiny Ferrari SF90 XX Stradale, accompanied by his girlfriend Alexandra and his dog Leo.
A curious encounter for the many fans crowding the restaurant who took the opportunity to snap some selfies and get autographs. The Monegasque, with the smile that characterizes his interactions with the Red fans, posed for photos and signed a few autographs before heading to the highway. A small moment of normality for a guy who, perhaps, needs it now more than ever.
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