F1 | Charles Leclerc’s face is all over downtown Shanghai, but it’s not a Ferrari campaign. Shanghai’s city center is plastered with Charles Leclerc’s face during the Chinese GP.

Leclerc everywhere in Shanghai city center

The face of Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc could be seen almost everywhere in downtown Shanghai, but surprisingly, this wasn’t a Ferrari or sponsor campaign. Instead, it was funded by a devoted local fan, who already owns an impressive collection of Charles Leclerc memorabilia.

Shanghai’s city center is a bustling pedestrian hub, blending modern commercial activity with pockets of tradition. In the days leading up to the Chinese Grand Prix, everyone in the Formula 1 paddock noticed Charles Leclerc’s face lighting up dozens of massive digital screens scattered across the city.

Not a commercial campaign

Many initially assumed this was a promotional campaign linked to one of the Monegasque’s brands or a marketing effort from a Ferrari sponsor. In reality, it had nothing to do with the Scuderia or the driver’s official partners.

A fan takes things to the next level

The explanation is actually quite extraordinary: a superfan, who has followed Charles Leclerc obsessively for years, rented all available advertising spaces in Shanghai during the GP week to display the driver’s image. Charles Leclerc, unbeknownst to him, appeared on dozens of massive screens throughout the city.

Some of the visuals included encouragements in Chinese, while others displayed Italian phrases like “Predestinato” and “Sedici Sempre.” The cost of the initiative reportedly ran into tens of thousands of euros. This is not a one-off, as the fan already owns a Leclerc memorabilia collection worth several million euros.

Celebrating devotion

The stunt highlights the extraordinary passion of some F1 fans, who are willing to go to great lengths to celebrate their heroes. In this case, Charles Leclerc’s Monegasque supporters in Shanghai transformed the city into a personal tribute, showing just how far fandom can go in the era of global motorsport.

This “Leclerc-mania” in Shanghai shows the sheer scale of Formula 1’s popularity in China as we move deeper into the 2026 season. While Mercedes may have locked out the front row for Sunday’s race, the cultural victory in the city streets clearly belongs to Ferrari’s number 16. For Charles Leclerc, having a fan willing to spend a small fortune on billboard space—while already sitting on a multi-million euro museum of his own career—highlights the unique, almost rock-star status the Monegasque holds in the East. It remains to be seen if this public show of support will provide the extra “boost” needed to help him fight his way to the top step of the podium tomorrow, but one thing is certain: in the eyes of Shanghai, Charles has already won.