Charles Leclerc is relishing a “special” moment with his brother Arthur as they prepare to contest FP1 at the Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix together with Ferrari.
Arthur Leclerc has been selected by Ferrari to fill its rookie requirement in opening practice at the Yas Marina Circuit and the post-season test.
That makes the Leclerc duo the first brothers to compete in a competitive F1 session with the same team in the history of the sport.
Speaking to select media including Motorsport Week on Thursday, C. Leclerc spoke about the emotional moment for his family.
“It’s definitely a very, very special moment for not only me, not only for Arthur, but I think for the whole family because I can only see how much sacrifices my parents have made when I was younger for us to continue,” the Ferrari driver said.
“Luckily for them, my older brother decided another route, which is the studies, which cost him quite a lot less money, but my younger brother and myself had only one dream, which was to become professional drivers.”
Leclerc brothers realise something ‘special’ for their late father
Leclerc revealed that his younger brother had to halt his career due to financial constraints in the family.
“[Arthur] didn’t have the same chance as me as he had to stop his career for five years because my parents couldn’t really afford to do that for both of us,” he said.
The Monegasque brothers lost their father before Charles made it to F1 and the multiple GP winner said “I know how much it meant [to him] to be able to restart Arthur’s career. When he did that, he was so happy.
“[Friday] is very special also for that, for how much my father has given to us in order to pursue our dream and to see two lucky lads in F 1 tomorrow in Ferrari is very, very special, so it will be a moment I will forever remember for sure.
“It’s a dream for both of us. My whole family will be flying from Monaco to here to enjoy that moment in FP1.”
This won’t be the first time that the Leclerc brothers have shared a race circuit as their time competing goes back to rental karting with their late friend Jules Bianchi.
“We used to drive very often together with Jules [Bianchi], with my older brother, with the younger brother of Jules,” Leclerc said.
“All together in rental cars. Jules’ father was the manager of Brignoles, where I actually started karting. And we were always together. We’ve always raced together since I am five or six.
“Then my younger brother joined us a bit later on when he was four or five. And we all raced on the same track together.
“I think that helped us a lot with our racecraft and the way we position the karting.
“So that’s where we raced and I remember lots of days playing PlayStation on Formula 1, getting so frustrated at each other, being so competitive. But yeah, tomorrow that will happen, but in real life, which is quite cool.”
READ MORE – Ferrari slated for F1 history with Charles and Arthur Leclerc in Abu Dhabi
