Leclerc Calls Memories With Jules Bianchi His Best in Motorsport

Overview

• Charles Leclerc said on The BSMT podcast that his memories with Jules Bianchi are the best he has in motorsport.
• He described Bianchi as his “sporting godfather” and recalled weekly kart sessions that helped him learn from older, faster drivers.
• Leclerc said he was in a race when Bianchi’s 2014 crash happened, and that his father delayed the full details until after, which made the news a shock.
• Reporting notes Bianchi struck a recovery vehicle in heavy rain at the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka and died on July 17, 2015, a loss that drove new safety steps in Formula 1.
• Leclerc later dedicated his 2024 Monaco Grand Prix win to Bianchi and pointed to Ferrari’s driver academy, a training program Bianchi helped pioneer, as a key guide for his own rise.