Charles Leclerc, born on October 16, 1997 in Monte Carlo, is a Monegasque Formula 1 driver who races for the Ferrari F1 team. His teammate in 2026 is Lewis Hamilton.

Leclerc began his Formula 1 career in 2018 with Sauber, where he immediately impressed with strong performances. After one season, he made the move to Ferrari, replacing Kimi Räikkönen. In 2019, his first full season with the team, Leclerc made an instant impact. He claimed his first Formula 1 victory at the Belgian Grand Prix and added two more wins that year.

In 2020, Ferrari struggled, but Leclerc continued to show his talent. He outperformed teammate Sebastian Vettel and secured two podium finishes. The 2021 season was also challenging, with Ferrari still lacking competitiveness, although Leclerc regularly finished in the top five.

In 2022, Leclerc emerged as a genuine title contender. Ferrari made significant progress and he won multiple races while challenging Max Verstappen throughout the season. Expectations were again high in 2023, but Ferrari continued to struggle with consistency and reliability, making it difficult to keep up with Verstappen.

In 2024, Ferrari came close to winning the constructors’ title. Leclerc won three races, including his home race in Monaco, Ferrari’s home race in Monza and another victory in Austin. However, McLaren secured the title in Abu Dhabi.

Expectations were high for 2025 after Ferrari’s strong 2024, but the new car failed to deliver. Leclerc did not compete for wins and finished the season with seven podiums. Ferrari shifted its focus early to the 2026 car due to major regulation changes.

In 2026, Leclerc continues at Ferrari alongside Lewis Hamilton. With major changes to both chassis and power units, it remains to be seen which team interprets the regulations best. Ferrari halted development of the SF-25 early to focus on the new car, and both Leclerc and Hamilton will hope it allows them to fight for victories again.

Ferrari underperformed in 2025 after nearly winning the title the year before. Lewis Hamilton joined as Leclerc’s teammate and took the team’s only win of the season, in the sprint race in China. Leclerc scored 86 more points than Hamilton and achieved seven Grand Prix podiums, finishing fifth in the championship.

Like many Formula 1 drivers, Leclerc started in karting, where he often raced against Max Verstappen. A rivalry developed early on. While Verstappen moved quickly into Formula 1, Leclerc followed the traditional route through Formula 3, GP3 and Formula 2, winning championships in both junior categories before reaching Formula 1.

In 2025, Leclerc was joined at Ferrari by Lewis Hamilton, who moved from Mercedes after twelve seasons. His arrival in Maranello attracted significant attention, with many fans attending Fiorano to see him on track. In their first season together, Leclerc outperformed Hamilton.

Leclerc has a dog named Leo, an Australian Shepherd who frequently appears on his social media. Leo is part of his life in Monaco and is often seen during moments away from race weekends.

Leclerc earns around €25 million per year at Ferrari, excluding bonuses. His total net worth is estimated to be close to €130 million.

At Ferrari, Leclerc immediately faced experienced teammate Sebastian Vettel. His early success, including two wins in his first season, quickly put him in the spotlight. However, a more difficult period followed after the FIA intervened over fuel sensor concerns. Ferrari struggled in 2020, partly as a result of that intervention.

Carlos Sainz later joined as his teammate after moving from McLaren. Ferrari improved significantly in 2021, finishing third in the constructors’ championship. In 2022, under new regulations, the team took another step forward, with Leclerc winning multiple races. Results dipped again in 2023, with no wins but several pole positions. In 2024, Leclerc returned to winning form with three victories.

Charles Leclerc is 28 years old and was born in Monaco to Hervé and Pascale Leclerc. He will turn 29 on October 16, 2026. His father passed away in 2017 at the age of 54. Leclerc has two brothers, Lorenzo and Arthur. He is 1.80 metres tall and weighs 69 kilograms.

Leclerc has been in a relationship with Alexandra Saint Mleux, a Monaco-based influencer, since 2023. She gained a large following on social media through content about fashion, baking and travel. The couple has made several public appearances together, including at Wimbledon and the Italian Grand Prix, while keeping most details of their relationship private. At the end of 2025, they announced their engagement. Early in 2026, before the start of the new F1 season, the couple got married.

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