A cruel joke: When Arrivabene broke Leclerc's heart

The ascent of Charles Leclerc to Formula 1 stardom is a tale of raw talent, unwavering determination and, as it turns out, a healthy dose of unexpected drama.

The young Monegasque driver, renowned for his speed and composure on the track, has revealed a particularly harrowing chapter from his early career.

A moment involving a cruel, yet ultimately comical, prank orchestrated by then Ferrari team principal Maurizio Arrivabene.

In a world where split-second decisions can mean the difference between victory and defeat, Leclerc found himself facing a life-altering choice: to continue pursuing his lifelong dream of driving for Ferrari or to accept the crushing reality of rejection.

Little did he know, this agonizing experience was merely the prelude to a rollercoaster of emotions.

In 2018, as a member of Ferrari’s Driver Academy in the midst of an impressive maiden Formula 1 season with Alfa Romeo Sauber, Leclerc’s prospects of joining the Scuderia in 2019 – and fulfilling his childhood dream of racing for the Italian outfit – looked incredibly promising.

But when the life-changing call came in from Arrivabene, the 21-year-old’s world crumbled in a mix of disbelief, shattered hopes, and a profound sense of loss, at least momentarily.

“The first thing he told me was: ‘Oh, Charles, we are sorry, but we won’t take you for the Ferrari seat,” Leclerc recounted in an interview for The Gentleman’s Journal.

“I was very sad, but I kind of expected it because it was so early in my career. Then, there was a 15-second pause before he said, ‘I’m just joking. You are part of the team next year’.”

• Read also: Leclerc enjoys F1’s unpredictability, craves for Ferrari dominance

Adding a layer of inner agitation to the moment was the presence in the next room of a group of Leclerc’s friends and a Netflix production crew filming for an episode of Drive to Survive, neither of which could be made aware of the good news.

“That was such a crazy feeling!” he added. “I was with all my friends and also Netflix, so I couldn’t show my emotions on the call because I couldn’t announce it yet.

“I don’t think they ever used that scene because they never knew what was really happening on that call,” he said.

Six years on, as Leclerc relentlessly pursues his second lifelong dream, winning a world title with Ferrari, the challenge has never been greater.

Next season will see him share the spotlight at the Scuderia with seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, a formidable teammate whose legacy in the sport is unmatched.

For Leclerc, this partnership represents both an incredible opportunity and a daunting test; racing alongside one of the greatest drivers in Formula 1 history will push him to new heights as he strives to bring the championship back to Maranello.

The stakes are higher than ever, but so too is Leclerc’s determination to etch his name in Ferrari’s storied legacy.

“It’s going to be incredible to have Lewis on the team and, obviously, to be able to have such an incredible champion in the same team as me, with the same car,” he admitted.

“First, it’s going to be a great opportunity to learn from one of the best ever. And second, I think it is going to be an amazing opportunity, also, for me to be able to show what I’m capable of, so I’m really looking forward to it.”

Despite his enthusiasm, Leclerc will be facing off against a man regarded by many as the greatest of all time in motorsport. By the time March arrives, Leclerc will be up against a seasoned veteran who claimed his first world championship when Leclerc was just 11 years old.

“By being on karting tracks every weekend growing up, it was difficult for me to actually follow a Formula 1 season, so I used to watch some races and he was definitely one of the guys that I looked up to,” admits the six-time Grand Prix winner.

“In the first year [in F1], I remember being super-impressed and intimidated by all these amazing drivers, and Lewis is probably the best out there, so being able to race with him was crazy.”

Asked if he plans on going easy on his future teammate as he adjusts to Ferrari’s special environment, Leclerc offered a decisive “No, of course not”.

“No, no, no – when I’m putting the helmet on, then there’s none of this anymore,” he added. “You change, you don’t think about who is who and you just go for it.

“Now I’m racing Lewis, so I’ve got to forget a little bit the names that are inside the paddock, and just focus on my own performance whenever I’m on track.”

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