Ten years have passed since Jules Bianchi’s dramatic accident in the 2014 Japanese GP, but Suzuka still holds a heavy weight in Charles Leclerc's heart.
Bianchi was severely injured in a crash that saw the Marussia driver skid off the wet track and hit a tractor-recovery vehicle.
The 26-year-old Ferrari hopeful succumbed to irreversible brain damage in July 2015, leaving a huge void for Leclerc who considered Bianchi as his mentor and "big brother" since his early karting days.
Though Jules may no longer be physically present, his spirit lives on in Leclerc's determination and passion for racing, serving as a guiding light on the challenging road ahead.
For Leclerc, Suzuka will always remain a sacred ground where he continues to honor the memory of his late mentor and friend.
To mark a decade since Bianchi’s tragic accident, Leclerc will sport a helmet design based on the lid worn by Jules at Marussia in 2014 and emblazoned with the late Frenchman’s now retired #17 race number.
“Of course it's a very special place, and whenever I get here I have somewhere in my mind Jules,” commented the Ferrari charger.
“I obviously think about Jules very often, because he's been the person that helped me to get there.
“Back in 2010 already he has spoken to Nicolas [Todt], my manager, in order for me to be supported to get to F1. And he's been the game changer in my career.
“And before that, we have always been extremely, extremely close, and both of our families are still always very close.
“So it's a very special place to be here. I'll be having a helmet for him this weekend, and of course, as always, he's always in my heart, and it's going to be very important to do well this weekend.”
For Leclerc, this weekend’s Japanese GP promises to be more than just a strategic battle for speed. It will be a race for Jules, a silent promise Leclerc will carry into the wind.
To do well, to honor the young man who believed in him so fiercely, that's the only victory that will truly matter.
Even though Jules is gone, their connection, forged on the racetrack, remains unbreakable. He will race, for himself, for Ferrari, but most importantly, for the friend who had shown him the way.
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