Charles Leclerc rose to prominence within motorsport by winning the inaugural season of FIA Formula 2. Not only was this feat remarkable in itself but also served as an impressive showcase of future successes for him.
The Journey to Becoming the 2017 Formula 2 Champion
Charles Leclerc was introduced to racing early by his father Herve Leclerc – himself an established race car driver – through his success karting karting, winning titles such as the CIK-FIA World Karting Championship at an early age. Beginning his single seater racing career on Formula 2.0 series in 2014 and joining Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy later that same year; their support helped Leclerc secure his GP3 Championship Championship title that same year and show his racing prowess.
2017 F2 Season: A Display of Dominance
Leclerc joined Prema Racing for the 2017 FIA Formula 2 Championship, immediately making an impact by securing pole position and a win in his first race through a strategic mid-race pit stop that saw him overtake 13 drivers in nine laps. His performance throughout the season included victories in Sakhir, Barcelona, Baku, Spielberg, and Silverstone. A memorable moment was his victory in Austria, where he started seventh in the sprint race but masterfully overtook competitors to win.
Securing the Championship
By the end of the season, Leclerc amassed 282 points, claiming seven race victories and ten podium finishes to become the then-youngest-ever GP2/Formula 2 champion at 19 years and 356 days old.
Navigating Personal Loss
Leclerc’s journey towards his championship was hindered by heartache when his father passed away during Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend. Yet in spite of such painful loss, Leclerc chose to race, dedicating pole position and feature race victory to him.
Ascension to Formula 1
Winning the F2 Championship opened up Leclerc to Formula 1. He began racing for Alfa Romeo Sauber in 2018, soon earning himself an invite from Scuderia Ferrari as their youngest ever driver since 1961 in 2019. As Scuderia Ferrari’s youngest-ever driver since 1961, he held up well under pressure, recording two wins, seven pole positions and placing fourth overall on his rookie campaign with them; all while leaving his mark during an F2 campaign that is widely remembered.