F1 News
Charles Leclerc recalls his first visit to Ferrari in Maranello as a child!
- Nicolás Quarles van Ufford
After his second win in Formula 1 and Ferrari's first win at the Italian Grand Prix in nine years, Charles Leclerc recalled the first time he went to visit Ferrari as a child with his godfather, the late Jules Bianchi.
The Monegasque claimed his second win on the spin after securing his maiden win in Spa Francorchamps just a week before. Now, by winning the Italian Grand Prix in front of the adoring home crowd in Italy, he's cemented himself as a Ferrari legend already, despite his young age.
After the race, when asked about his earliest memories about Ferrari, the 21-year-old remembers going to the factory as a child.
"I went there with Jules Bianchi, who had to go there for some TV stuff and obviously he tried to let me in with him but they decided I couldn’t go in the factory," he said at the post-race press conference.
"Now it’s a little bit easier to go inside but yeah, I remember obviously of dreaming of one day going through these doors and seeing how a Formula One team works, especially Ferrari.
"But I remember I was very impressed by the way as soon as you arrive in Maranello, which is a city, you can feel that everyone is just here, all working for Ferrari or completely crazy about Ferrari. That was very very special."
Bianchi seemed destined to drive for Ferrari at the time as was very impressive in his early years in Formula 1, until he tragically lost his life on the track in 2014. As his godson and best friend, Leclerc is now doing what many thought Bianchi was destined to do; winning races for Ferrari.