Charles Leclerc Eyes Le Mans Debut, Seeks to Balance with F1 Duties
Charles Leclerc wants to race at the 24 Hours of Le Mans but says he must find a way to properly prepare for it alongside his Ferrari F1 duties, stressing he would only compete with a realistic chance to win.
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc has expressed a strong desire to compete in the iconic 24 Hours of Le Mans, but acknowledges the challenge of fitting it into his demanding Formula 1 schedule. The Monegasque driver, who attended the FIA prize-giving gala to celebrate Ferrari's World Endurance Championship (WEC) success, is inspired by the team's endurance racing legacy but wants to ensure any future attempt is a serious, competitive effort.
Why it matters:
Leclerc's interest highlights a growing trend among top-tier F1 drivers to seek out the ultimate challenge in endurance racing. For Ferrari, having its star F1 driver publicly aspire to race at Le Mans strengthens the brand's legendary connection to the event and underscores the prestige of its recent WEC triumph. It also reflects a modern driver's ambition to achieve success across multiple disciplines within their career.
The details:
- Leclerc attended the FIA gala in Tashkent specifically to support Ferrari, which secured both the Hypercar manufacturers' and drivers' titles in the 2024 WEC season.
- He described the feeling of winning for Ferrari as "extremely special," calling it a dream and expressing pride in being part of the team's motorsport legacy.
- The 28-year-old stated he has considered a Le Mans attempt "quite a few times" but emphasized that his participation would be contingent on proper preparation.
- Leclerc's primary condition is that any effort must be competitive: "if I do something, I want to do it to try and win."
- The main logistical hurdle is combining the significant preparation required for a top-level Le Mans bid with his full-time Formula 1 commitments for Scuderia Ferrari.
What's next:
Leclerc joins a list of current F1 drivers, like Lando Norris and George Russell, who have voiced interest in the 24-hour race. His participation would likely depend on Ferrari's support and a carefully managed calendar. With Ferrari now a proven winner in the Hypercar class, a future collaboration for a "star driver" entry featuring Leclerc is a tantalizing, though logistically complex, possibility for the coming years.