Leclerc ready to strike back on home turf!

©Instagram

Charles Leclerc will head into his home race next weekend in Monaco determined to avenge his defeat at the hands of misfortune in Barcelona.

But before he hits the track on Friday, the Ferrari charger was on the pitch at Monaco's Stade Louis II on Tuesday evening along with several of his F1 colleagues for the annual celebrity World Stars Football Match that traditionally precedes F1's round of racing in the Principality.

Leclerc was joined on his team by, among others, his Scuderia teammate Carlos Sainz, Fernando Alonso, Pierre Gasly and non other than F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali who fiercely guarded the F1 drivers' team's goal.

Unfortunately for the Italian, a rough encounter with an overenthusiastic Daniil Kvyat, who was playing for Prince Albert of Monaco's squad, resulted in a pair of broken glasses and the F1 boss' swift replacement.

Who won, you ask? The match went into overtime, but the two teams ultimately drew 3-3.

©Instagram

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.