In the ruthless, often cold world of professional racing, Charles Leclerc has always carried an important piece of the past with him.
While his career is defined by the red of Ferrari and the glamour of podium finishes, the heart of his journey belongs to a much quieter time – one spent on dusty karting tracks alongside his “sporting godfather” and mentor, the late Jules Bianchi.
For Leclerc, the connection to Bianchi was more than professional; it was the foundation of his life in motorsport.
Nearly twelve years after the tragic events at Suzuka in 2014, Leclerc has opened up once again about the profound influence Bianchi had on him, turning a shared tragedy into a source of enduring strength.
The Wednesday rituals
Long before Leclerc was a multiple Grand Prix winner, he was a young boy looking up to a driver who was "absolutely extraordinary." Their bond was forged not in the spotlight of Formula 1, but in the simple, repetitive joy of childhood racing.
"I was 17. He was my sporting godfather. He had always been there from the beginning," Leclerc shared during a recent appearance on The BSMT by Gianluca Gazzoli podcast.
"I have some videos of the two of us at home, where he would take a kart; Jules would bring a smaller kart to race with me, who was 6-7-8 years younger than him. These are the best memories I have in motorsport."
Those early days were Leclerc’s classroom. Under Jules' wing, the future Ferrari star wasn't just having fun; he was being molded into a world-class competitor.
"Every Wednesday after the race, we would go and race together, and it was also a time for me where I learned a lot, because I was racing with people older than me, and especially with Jules, who was an absolutely extraordinary driver," Leclerc recalled.
"All of these moments were incredibly special, and that's what made me happy. Therefore, there was never a doubt about continuing."
A passion forged in grief
The 2014 Japanese Grand Prix remains a dark chapter for the sport, but for a teenage Leclerc, it was a moment of fractured reality.
As Bianchi fought for his life following his accident in the pouring rain, Leclerc was shielded from the full weight of the situation so he could focus on his own racing commitments.
"It was incredibly difficult, but the thought of not continuing never once entered my mind, because this is what brings me to life, what truly ignites my passion," Leclerc explained, reflecting on the aftermath.
"It's the thing I love most in the world, but this moment was definitely really hard to accept. I was in a race when it happened. I didn't really understand everything that had happened.
Charles Leclerc with Jules Bianchi and his father, Hervé Leclerc.
“Even my father tried not to tell me the whole truth, because I was about to get into a car for my race. Therefore, I didn't know all the details of what had happened.
"Afterwards, he explained everything to me, and that came as a huge shock," Leclerc said, yet he remains driven by the same fire that Jules helped ignite all those years ago.
The "huge shock" that could have derailed any young athlete. Instead, Leclerc chose to walk the path Jules had started as the first member of the Ferrari Driver Academy.
Every victory since – including his emotional 2024 win in Monaco – has served as a tribute to the young man who raced a smaller kart just to stay by his side.
For Charles, the story of Jules Bianchi is not only one of loss, but of presence – still felt in every lap, every milestone, and every reminder of where it all began.
Keep up to date with all the F1 news via X and Facebook
