28. Charles Leclerc

Charles Leclerc (French pronunciation: ​[ʃaʁl ləklɛʁ]; born 16 October 1997) is a Monégasque racing driver, currently racing in Formula One for Scuderia Ferrari, under the Monégasque flag. Leclerc won the GP3 Series championship in 2016 and the FIA Formula 2 Championship in 2017.

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A precocious champion with breathtaking talent, Monaco’s Charles Leclerc is pursuing a sensational career in motorsport. He has not stopped developing his innate talent since the earliest days, thanks to his sharp intelligence, a pronounced taste for hard work and an exceedingly likeable personality. Having entered Formula 1 in 2018 with Alfa Romeo Sauber F1, his dream continues this year inside the prestigious Scuderia Ferrari alongside Sebastian Vettel.

Born 16th October 1997, Charles Leclerc collected exploits from an early age in karting. French Champion in 2009, then winner of the Monaco Kart Cup in 2010, the CIK-FIA Academy Trophy and the Junior World Cup in 2011, he continued to shine among the world elite of the discipline until 2013.

His rapid rise continued in single-seater from 2014 onwards. Top rookie in Formula Renault in his first season, then in Formula 3 the following year, he raised the pace further in 2016 by winning the GP3 Series before dominating the 2017 season of FIA Formula 2. Spotted by Nicolas Todt in 2010, the All Road Management driver joined the Ferrari Driver Academy in 2016 and made his Formula 1 debut in the process.

After a convincing first year with the Alfa Romeo Sauber team, he was chosen in 2019 to drive the new Ferrari SF 90. After 7 pole positions, 10 podiums and 2 victories, Charles finished fourth in the World Championship and extended his contract with Ferrari until 2024. The 2020 season was below Charles’ expectations as he could jump on the podium on two occasions only, finishing 8th in the drivers’ classification.

Charles Leclerc is due to drive for Ferrari until the end of 2024. Leclerc has a new teammate at Ferrari for 2021 with Carlos Sainz Jr. joining the team as a replacement for Sebastian Vettel. Leclerc started the Bahrain Grand Prix in 4th behind Valtteri Bottas and finished 6th. He then started 4th and also finished 4th at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix behind Lando Norris after struggling to keep his pace after the red flag in the middle of the race. He spent half of the race without a radio. Leclerc then finished 6th at the Portuguese Grand Prix which placed him 5th in the points standings, above his teammate Sainz, who finished 11th in the race.

Charles Leclerc made an appearance in the film Le Grand Rendez-vous, a remake of the 1976 French short film C’etait un rendez-vous. In 2020, Leclerc also became an endorsement model for Giorgio Armani.

In 2018, Leclerc was named Ambassador for the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation [Fr], helping to promote the benefits of learning to swim. In 2020, Leclerc assisted the Red Cross of Monaco, delivering meals and transporting hospital equipment amid the COVID-19 pandemic in Monaco. He also supported the Italian Red Cross fundraising campaigns, encouraging donations towards its relief efforts.