Leclerc saddles Villeneuve's Ferrari 312 T4 at Fiorano

©Ferrari

40

F1 championship leader Charles Leclerc recently had an opportunity to drive the 1979 race winning Ferrari 312 T4 of one the Scuderia's most legendary drivers, the great Gilles Villeneuve.

Needless to say, Leclerc was 15 years away from being born when Villeneuve mesmerized fans and rivals alike with his flamboyant driving style that endeared him to so many.

On the 40th anniversary of Villeneuve's passing, Formula 1 released a video of Leclerc's track day with the iconic car, a moment shared by the Monegasque with Villeneuve's then good friend and rival René Arnoux.

"It makes me emotional to be the driver chosen to drive this car today," said Leclerc.

"Gilles Villeneuve was extremely special. I think as a personality, I think he just had something very likeable, and people could probably recognize a bit of themselves in Gilles.

"And whenever he was putting the helmet on he was a completely different person, an animal and really pushing the limit of this car.

"He left this passion within the team, he's just a legend."

Check out the video of Leclerc's memorable run at Fiorano in the tweet below.

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.