Charles Leclerc says participating in first practice on Friday with younger brother Arthur will be a “very, very special moment” for his family.
The pair will become the first brothers to take part in an official F1 session as team mates in tomorrow’s first practice for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
It will be Arthur Leclerc’s appearance in a grand prix session. The 23-year-old former Formula 2 racer and ex-Ferrari Driver Academy member competed in the European Le Mans Series this year with Panis Racing.
The elder Leclerc says that he is thrilled for his younger brother to finally get an opportunity to drive in a grand prix weekend due to their late father, Herve, having to choose to prioritise Charles over Arthur for financial reasons when they were younger.
“It will be very, very, very special,” he said.
“It’s very special because I also know the whole background of how did he get there, how did we get there. Obviously, our parents have done a lot of sacrifices for both of us to pursue our dream. He had to stop that dream for three or four years because my father couldn’t withstand the investment that was required for him to continue. And I was the only one to continue in the family.
“My older brother [Lorenzo] took a different step, which was studying – so that was less expensive – and he’s very successful in what he does. But my younger brother wanted to do just the same as me.
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“He restarted a few years later when I was supported by my manager, Nicolas Todt. I have seen how hurt my father was when he said to Arthur that he had to stop racing because we didn’t have the finances behind it.”
Arthur Leclerc will also take part in the post-season test day on Tuesday, sharing the SF-24 with Antonio Fuoco. The siblings’ mother, Pascale, will be present at Yas Marina to watch her sons driving together.
“To know that tomorrow he will be in FP1 with me is a very, very special moment, not only for both of us, but I think for the whole family, for my mum – she will be travelling here tomorrow to see FP1,” he said. “So it will be a very emotional moment, but I’m looking forward to it. He deserves it and I’m really happy for him.”
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2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
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