By: Today is a special day for Charles Leclerc. A birthday he will not forget. The Monegasque driver, who has been behind the wheel of one of Maranello's cars since 2019, is about to complete his eighth year at Ferrari, but above all he is about to take on other major and important responsibilities.
Charles took his first steps in red alongside four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel. He had to show his character and demonstrate his qualities straight away, earning himself the nickname of “the chosen one”.
Maranello’s little prince
However, that is not the nickname we have chosen to use today. Of all those bestowed upon him, there is another that suits our purpose better: the “little prince”. It obviously stems from his birthplace, the Principality of Monaco, but also from his consistently courteous and kind manner, both then and now, in front of the cameras.
Eight seasons on from his Ferrari debut, when we look at Leclerc, we no longer see the well-mannered little prince eager to prove his potential. Looking at Charles now, we see a self-aware man. Always kind, aggressive when necessary, yet fair in wheel-to-wheel battles. A man who is highly self-critical and honest with himself. A man who got married in February and is expecting his first child with his wife, Alexandra Saint Mleux, due shortly, in the autumn.
The little prince has become a man, while still waiting to win his first title with Ferrari. An opportunity that has never truly presented itself so far, apart from in 2024, when there was a chance to fight not for the drivers’ title but for the constructors’ crown. It was a trophy they only narrowly missed out on, with McLaren crowned champions at the end of the final race in Abu Dhabi. At Maranello, Charles has experienced significant seasons that have helped him grow both personally and professionally. Indeed, to date, he has never driven a car capable of being considered the benchmark of the grid.
Happy birthday, Charles Leclerc
Charles Leclerc turns 29 today, and one chapter of his life will inevitably come to an end while another is soon to begin. He has entered his final year in his twenties and will shortly have to take on other major responsibilities. The little prince has become a man, and we can only offer him our warmest birthday wishes, along with an even greater wish for what lies ahead. Happy birthday, Charles.
