F1 news: A look at 2024 Monaco Grand Prix winner Charles Leclerc’s career so far

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc was in dreamland after securing victory in Sunday’s Monaco Grand Prix, taking the chequered flag in his home race.

Leclerc held off the challenge of McLaren driver Oscar Piastri to take top spot on the podium, with his Ferrari team-mate finishing third.

It was Leclerc’s first win since July 2022 but meant even more coming on home soil, and he said: “No words can explain that. It's such a difficult race, I think the fact that twice I've been starting on pole position and we couldn't quite make it makes it even better in a way.

"It means a lot, obviously. It's the race which made me dream of becoming a Formula 1 driver one day.

"Fifteen laps to the end you're hoping nothing happens and the emotions are coming.

"My dad has given everything for me to be here and it was a dream of ours for me to race here and win here, so it's unbelievable."

Here, Sports News Blitz takes a look at Leclerc’s career so far.

Early Career: Zooming Out of the Cradle

Karting:

Leclerc's racing journey started in karting, where he quickly realized he could drive faster than most people can walk.

He won the French PACA Championship in 2005, probably before he even knew how to spell "championship."

By 2010, he was the Junior Monaco Kart Cup champ, and in 2011, he took home the CIK-FIA KF3 World Cup. Basically, if it had wheels and a trophy, he won it.

Single-Seaters:

In 2014, Leclerc hopped into single-seaters like a teenager into a sports car. Competing in the Formula Renault 2.0 Alps series, he finished second. Not bad for a guy who was probably still figuring out how to parallel park.

By 2015, he was in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship, finishing fourth and winning the rookie title. Clearly, he was just warming up.

GP3 and Formula 2: The Pre-F1 Show

GP3 Series:

Leclerc joined the GP3 Series in 2016 with ART Grand Prix, promptly winning the championship.

With three wins and a bunch of podiums, he made it clear he wasn’t just there for the free snacks.

FIA Formula 2:

In 2017, Leclerc moved to FIA Formula 2 with Prema Racing. He dominated the season with seven wins, securing the championship title and possibly contemplating where to store all these trophies. His success screamed, “Get this man into F1!”

Formula 1 Career: From Rookie to Rock Star

Sauber (2018):

Leclerc debuted in F1 with Alfa Romeo Sauber in 2018, quickly showing he could handle an F1 car better than most people handle Monday mornings.

Scoring 39 points and consistently outpacing his team-mate Marcus Ericsson, he proved he was no rookie to be messed with.

Ferrari (2019-Present):

In 2019, Leclerc got the call-up to Scuderia Ferrari, swapping his Sauber for a prancing horse.

He bagged his first F1 pole in Bahrain and his first win at the Belgian Grand Prix, following it up with another win in Italy.

The Tifosi were over the moon, and Leclerc finished the season fourth in the standings, leaving his team-mate Sebastian Vettel wondering what just happened.

2020 Season:

2020 was tough for Ferrari, thanks to a car that seemed allergic to podiums.

Despite this, Leclerc managed two podiums and spent the rest of the season driving like he was auditioning for "Fast & Furious: Maranello Drift," finishing eighth in the championship.

2021 Season:

In 2021, Ferrari was still trying to remember how to build fast cars. Leclerc snagged two pole positions and finished seventh in the standings, often looking like he was dragging his car to the finish line with sheer willpower.

2022 Season:

Ferrari finally remembered how to make a fast car in 2022. Leclerc won in Bahrain and Australia, making it look easy.

However, strategic blunders and mechanical hiccups derailed his title bid. He still finished second in the championship, proving he’s a force to be reckoned with.

2023 Season:

Leclerc's 2023 season was a mixed bag of podiums and problems. Despite reliability issues and tough competition, he kept his chin up and his foot down, finishing the season with everyone knowing he's a future champ in the making.

Driving Style and Recognition: Speed and Style

Charles Leclerc is known for his aggressive driving, lightning-fast qualifying laps, and the kind of racecraft that makes other drivers consider career changes. His ability to stay cool under pressure has earned him a spot in the hearts of F1 fans worldwide.

Personal Life and Impact: The Man Behind the Helmet

Off the track, Leclerc is known for his humility and sportsmanship. He’s close to his family, and the loss of his father, Hervé Leclerc, in 2017, hit him hard but also motivated him to push harder.

If there's a good guy in the paddock, it's Charles.

So, there you have it: Charles Leclerc, the Monegasque marvel, the Ferrari flyer, and the guy who's probably going to need a bigger trophy cabinet soon.

Stay tuned, because this ride is far from over, especially now he has that giant Monaco-shaped monkey off his back.

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