5 things to know about Charles Leclerc

Charles Leclerc is a Formula 1 heartthrob. As an elite motor racing driver, a musician and a dog lover, what is not to like about the dashing Monégasque. Olivia Bullock provides five things you need to know about the racing champion, including his new ice cream brand, his love for music and what he does in his spare time 

He uses creativity to escape F1 pressures

In addition to being a talented driver, Leclerc is also a talented musician. He has shared that fashion and music help him think of something else other than the competitive world of Formula 1. “I’m very creative, all of these things help me think of something else,” he says.  

The racing driver enjoys making music in his free time, having played the piano since he was six and the guitar since he was 15 or 16 years old. He released his debut piano-composed single “AUS23 (1:1)” in (you guessed it) 2023. He later released “MIA23” and “MO23”, drawing inspiration from his race weekends. This year he has released three singles: “Heartbeat”, “Limitless”, and “The Dream Continues”. 

He is a big fan of music composer Hans Zimmer, stating that he believes “everything by Hans Zimmer is good. Otherwise, I like Coldplay.” Hans Zimmer recently made an appearance to perform the Austrian national anthem at the Austrian Grand Prix in June. We can only hope the world-renowned composer had a conversation with Leclerc and that the two will surprise us with some music! 

Fun fact: Hans Zimmer will be completing the score for the upcoming F1 movie starring Brad Pitt and Lewis Hamilton set to be released in the summer of 2025. 

He has his own ice cream brand 

Having achieved the FIA Pole Trophy for Most Pole Positions in the 2019, 2020 and 2022 seasons, it should come as no surprise that Leclerc’s ambitions are not limited to the racing circuit. He launched his own ice-cream brand Lec in April 2024. The low calorie tubs come in five flavours: chocolate, vanilla, pistachio, salted caramel and peanut caramel. Lec’s slogan reads “why resist?” and aside from the geographical challenges of it exclusively being sold in Italy, we are inclined to ask the same question. At least you now have another excuse to go to Italy. 

Outside of his business ventures, he also skis, surfs and likes to go scuba diving. He has a diving licence and can dive up to 40m. However, he has said he has no intention of going any further as he feels he goes far enough and the vision is already limited. And of course, you can’t forget his love for sim racing (a motor racing simulator). 

Racing runs in the family 

Leclerc’s late father Herve Leclerc was an F3 driver in the 1990’s. The family’s investment into the sport has clearly been effective as Charles Leclerc announced he will remain with Ferrari at least until the end of the 2026 season. 

Leclerc passed his driving test on the same day as his first driving lesson which was only 10 minutes long! “I was more stressed before the test than I am before a Grand Prix… I was scared I would fail and then have to explain to all my friends that I had failed,” he recalls. Nevertheless, he passed with flying colours. The driver has been on four wheels since the age of five, so we imagine the motor racing #legend would pass on the first go. 

His younger brother Arthur Leclerc is also a motor racing driver. He previously raced for F2, but is now racing in the European Le Mans Series for Panis Racing. The young driver still ultimately hopes to race in F1 one day. 

He is trilingual 

Leclerc was born and raised in Monte Carlo, Monaco. He is trilingual and fluently speaks French, English and Italian. Despite speaking multiple languages, he does not speak the language of gossip and does not like to engage in paddock politics. “I don’t like politics, I don’t like being false… I’m just myself, whether people like it or not… It is very rare I don’t get on with people, but I don’t force things, and I don’t like being political,” he says. Such a good boy! 

This focus on the track and not on talk has helped Leclerc win the Monaco Grand Prix in 2024 for the first time, making him the first Monegasque driver to win a Monaco grand prix in 93 years. 

The RM 67-02 Charles Leclerc prototype is one of the brand’s most expensive watches ever sold 

As a driver for Ferrari, Leclerc naturally holds close ties with Richard Mille. The RM 67-02 Charles Leclerc Prototype is one of Richard Mille’s most expensive watches ever. It was sold at auction for HK$ 18 million (US$2.3 million) after it was donated. The auction also included two tickets to the next Monaco Grand Prix, the chance to meet Leclerc in person, and the opportunity to watch the grand prix from the heart of the race: the paddock. 

It is also not surprising that Leclerc has a plethora of luxury brands under his belt. He became an endorsement model for Giorgio Armani in 2020. He is also an ambassador for Ray Ban and APM Monaco and can be seen frequently sporting the two brands. 

Luxury audio brand Bang and Olufsen have also recently announced Leclerc as one of their new global brand ambassadors. He expressed “The cars I am driving are engineering marvels, and the sounds they produce inform me of the split-second decisions I need to take. This close attention to sound has trained my ear to listen differently, so quality of sound plays a vital role in my life. When I listen to music, I want a clarity in sound and a balance in tuning that reveals the music in new ways and brings me closer to the artist.” 

Also see: 5 things to know about Billkin