Maranello gets a wake-up call from Charles Leclerc!

©Ferrari

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©Ferrari

The good people of Maranello were woken at the crack of dawn this morning by the unmistakable rumbling of a prancing horse straddled by Charles Leclerc.

The Monegasque passed through the Ferrari factory's sacred gates to steer his SF1000 past the Maranello Museum and on to the Via Gilles Villeneuve as he headed to Fiorano, the Scuderia's testing grounds where a day of preparation and limited running ahead of next month's Austrian GP awaited the team.

"I don’t normally like getting up early, but this morning there was a great reason to do so," said Leclerc. "Maybe it woke a few people up, but it was great to drive through the streets of Maranello in the SF1000.

"It was exciting to get back in the car today, particularly on such a special route. Being back in the cockpit felt like coming home again.

"It seemed like a fun way of saying we are ready to get back on track. Now I can’t wait to drive the SF1000 in Austria."

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.