“A casa tua, Charles. A casa tua, Charles. A casa tua, Charles.” Translated to, “In your house, Charles. In your house, Charles. In your house, Charles,” this iconic quote is from a commentator during this year’s Monaco Grand Prix. On May 26, 2024, Formula 1 driver Charles Leclerc won the Monaco Grand Prix for the first time in his career. His second win of the season came just a few months later in Monza, Italy. Lerclerc’s Monaco and Monza wins were career-defining achievements.
Monaco born and raised, Leclerc grew up watching the Monaco Grand Prix with his father, Hervé Leclerc, who was a former racer himself and an important influence in the lives of Leclerc and his siblings. Leclerc, who is part of the Ferrari team, is the second Monégasque driver ever to win his home grand prix. Leclerc’s F1 career started in 2018 in the Sauber team, before signing his official contract with the Ferrari house. His rookie year started months after his father’s death and three years after his godfather, Jules Bianchi’s, death. His father tragically passed away at the age of 54 in 2017, and, in fact, Leclerc told his dad several weeks before his death that he had signed his first official F1 contract. He had not done so yet at the time, but he wanted to make sure his dad felt that he had accomplished his family’s dream of having a Leclerc in Formula 1. Bianchi, Leclerc’s godfather, was a F1 driver who tragically died in the Japanese Grand Prix when he collided in wet and slippery conditions with a recovery vehicle. His death is the most recent F1 fatality recorded. Leclerc has an older sibling, Lorenzo, and a younger sibling, Arthur, who previously graduated from Formula 2, the group under F1 in this level of racing.
Leclerc has the nickname “il Predestinato,” translating to “the Predestined.” The phrase was coined by F1 commentator Carlo Vanzini after a teenage Leclerc delivered a comeback witty enough to impress the experienced commentator and convince him of his skills. Explaining how the nickname came about, Vanzini said, “It became popular after he won in Monza, but I had used that nickname for his first win in Spa [Belgian Grand Prix] as well” (Ferrari News).
Adding to Leclerc’s glory, and that of the Italian people, was his win at Monza for the second time in his career. The win was especially meaningful because the Monza Grand Prix is the home race of the Ferrari team. The famously extravagant Italian commentators fawned over the win.
Outside of the F1 world, Leclerc is also dating Alexandra Saint Mieux, a 21-year-old social media influencer. Additionally, he recently opened an ice cream brand, LEC, which is only being sold in certain Italian supermarkets, preserving the Italian reputation for ice cream. He has also recently adopted a new dog named “Leo” with his girlfriend.
