Charles Leclerc

Leclerc married Alexandra Saint Mleux in a civil ceremony in Monaco on February 28, 2026. He resides in Monte Carlo and is fluent in French, Italian, and English.

Outside Formula 1, he races virtually and has won Formula One Virtual Grand Prix events against Lando Norris, George Russell, and Alex Albon.

Leclerc began karting in 2005 and won the Monaco Kart Cup in 2010. In 2011, he added the CIK-FIA Karting Academy Trophy and the CIK-FIA World Cup. His early karting career was connected to Jules Bianchi, whose family owned the track where Leclerc raced as a child. Bianchi later became Leclerc's godfather and died in 2015.

Leclerc made his car-racing debut in the Formula Renault 2.0 Alps series in 2014, finishing second in the championship. He competed in the Formula Three European Championship in 2015, then won the 2016 GP3 Series title after recording three victories and eight podium finishes.

He joined the Ferrari Driver Academy in 2016 and won the 2017 Formula 2 championship with seven victories and ten podium finishes. The achievement helped secure his move to Formula 1.

Leclerc made his Formula 1 debut with Sauber in 2018. During his rookie season, he regularly outperformed his more experienced teammate Marcus Ericsson and attracted Ferrari's attention with his speed, racecraft, and composure.

He joined Scuderia Ferrari for the 2019 season, replacing Kimi Raikkonen in the team's driver lineup. At 21, he was Ferrari's youngest driver since 1961. He finished ahead of teammate Sebastian Vettel in the championship standings and became the first Ferrari driver to outscore Vettel over a season, repeating the achievement the following year.

Leclerc secured his first Formula 1 victory at the 2019 Belgian Grand Prix and won again at Monza the following week. His performances made him a central figure in Ferrari's plans for the future.

Ferrari's struggles in 2020 and 2021 limited Leclerc's opportunities, but he remained competitive and emerged as a title contender in 2022. He won three races, recorded eleven podiums and nine pole positions, and finished second in the World Drivers' Championship behind Max Verstappen.

In 2023, Leclerc finished fifth in the drivers' standings despite remaining winless. He achieved a major personal milestone in 2024 by winning the Monaco Grand Prix, becoming the first local driver to win the race in 93 years. He finished that season third overall with three victories and extended his Ferrari contract.

Lewis Hamilton joined Ferrari as Leclerc's teammate in 2025. In 2026, Leclerc won the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, giving Ferrari its 250th Formula 1 victory.

Leclerc has supported the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation, which teaches children water-safety skills. He has also participated in cancer-research fundraising connected to the death of his father, Hervé Leclerc, who died from cancer in 2017.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Leclerc donated to the Red Cross in Monaco and helped raise funds for relief organizations. He has also promoted environmental protection and eco-friendly practices, including through his support for hybrid and electric vehicles.