Interview with Charles Leclerc

Charles started racing cars at a young age and worked his way up to Formula 1. His most memorable moment was winning his first Formula 1 race at Spa-Francorchamps in 2019. The biggest challenges he faces as a driver are staying focused and managing tires and race strategy. He prepares for races by training in the gym and studying race data. His advice for young drivers is to work hard, stay positive, and learn from every experience. Hi Charles, thanks for being here. How are you? Hi, thank you for inviting me. I'm fine. I'm preparing for the next races and I'm still ready and motivated. Every race weekend is a new challenge and I'm excited to go out on the track. How did you start in the world of Formula 1? Tell us more about your story. I started racing cars when I was very young, around four years old. My father was very passionate about racing, so I grew up in a place that loved motorsport. I started racing in car competitions around Europe and I managed to get such an award. As I grew up, I kept climbing up the categories, moving from Formula Renault to GP Trim and Formula Show before finally coming to Formula 1 with the Sobar in 2018. What is the most memorable moment of your career so far? There have been a number of memorable moments in my career. One of the most special was my first Formula 1 win at Spa-Francorchamps in 2019. It was an incredible experience, especially considering that the Spa circuit is one of my favourites. Also, to win a race with Ferrari is an honour and an indescribable emotion. What are the biggest challenges you deal with as a Formula 1 driver? The challenges are big. Formula 1 is an extremely competitive sport, so every driver tries to get the best out of every situation. One of the biggest challenges is to keep your concentration during the whole race weekend. Which includes the practice sessions, qualifying and the race proper. You must always be mentally present and ready to react to any change. In addition, the management of the tyres and the race strategy are crucial for a successful race. How do you prepare for a race? What is your routine? Preparation for a race starts long before the race weekend. I train regularly in the gym to maintain fitness and improve resistance. I start working with my team to plan the race strategy and study the data collected from every race. During the race weekend, I try to stay calm and focused. And make sure I am always ready to go into each session after my best. Do you have any advice for young drivers who want to get into racing? Yes, my advice is to work hard but never give up. Motorsport is a competitive world, but with patience and determination you can get to great results. It's important to have a positive mentality and to keep learning from every experience. Also, it's crucial to surround yourself with people who support you and help you grow. Thank you for your time, Charles. Good luck for the next race. Thank you.