The charm of 24 Hours of Le Mans. A historic race in the motorsport panorama. All drivers dream of racing it at least once in their lives. Even the magical and golden world of Formula 1 he always looks at this race with particular fascination. It’s no exception Charles Leclerc who has repeatedly underlined how much he would like to race at Le Mans one day, perhaps with the Ferrari.
Like him also other pilots, from Max Verstappen to George Russell and what about Fernando Alonso And Nico Hulkenberg that they also won the 24 Hours in the recent past. However, the “his” president took care of stopping Leclerc’s ambitions for a short-term participation in Le Mans John Elkann.
Ferrari, Leclerc and the desire for the 24 Hours of Le Mans
Last year Charles Leclerc was trackside at Le Mans for the 2023 edition the one won big byFerrari hypercar. The Monegasque driver carefully followed all phases of the French race included in the WEC, the world endurance championship. Even at night Leclerc was crowded along the track to experience the nocturnal charm of the historic endurance race.
Among the various declarations, yesterday as today, Leclerc has often underlined his desire to race at Le Mans one day and to do it to win like Fernando Alonso did for example a few years ago: “The charm of Le Mans is incredible, sooner or later I will race there and I will do it to win. My dream? Run it together with my younger brother Arthur“.
Obviously it is difficult to reconcile F1 commitments with Le Mans, Leclerc is aware of this: “Formula 1 gives no respite – said Charles – we really don’t have time to prepare well for a race like Le Mans. The Formula One calendar doesn’t allow for distractions, it would be quite complicated.”
Ferrari, Leclerc at Le Mans: John Elkann’s veto
The president of the company spoke indirectly on the subject Ferrari in person John Elkann who in a long interview with Le Figaro precisely on the participation of the Ferrari brand in the 24 Hours of Le Mans When asked about Leclerc’s participation, he clarified:
“Our current riders are very strong. Some have proven that they are capable of achieving good results in both Formula 1 and endurance racing. I think about Antonio Giovinazzi who runs with us, ea Fernando Alonso. Nigel Mansell he chose the path of IndyCar. But Charles already has a lot to do in Formula 1 and we must not distract him“.
F1: Verstappen, Albon and Russell are also thinking about Le Mans
On the sidelines of the Canadian Grand Prix last week, some F1 drivers were asked about their desire to one day compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. For the world champion of Verstappen it is a goal more than a dream: “I remember when I was eleven or twelve years old my father Jos raced at Le Mans. It’s something incredible. I was just a kid but the whole atmosphere was great. I would definitely like to race the 24 Hours in the future. It’s an incredible event.”
On the same wavelength George Russell: “At the end of my Formula 1 career I would like to race the 24 Hours of Le Mans, a very special event” And Alexander Albon: “The 24 Hours of Le Mans is most likely on every pilot’s to-do list. I’d like to race it, I definitely have it in my head” .
F1 and the charm of Le Mans: from Graham Hill to Alonso and Hulkenberg
In the past, racing at Le Mans and in F1 was almost a habit for drivers, especially for the best. There was no specialization and the rules, contracts and stress of Formula 1 left room for versatility. From Mike Hawthorn to Phil Hill passing through Jochen Rindt until Graham HillDamon’s father, the only one to have succeeded in the feat of hitting the Triple Crownsymbolic trophy for those who manage to win the Monaco F1 GP, the Indianapolis 500 and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
In the recent past, however, the F1 drivers who race at Le Mans are mostly former drivers or who in any case no longer race in Formula 1 on a regular basis, see the same Giovinazzi with Ferrari or just this year Mick Schumacher with Alpine. Yet there are those who have tried and won Fernando Alonso twice2018 and 2019. But also Nico Hulkenberg won it in 2015
