Leclerc squared: the brothers make history in EL1

For the first time in F1 history, two brothers were reunited in the same team during Free Practice 1 of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Charles Leclerc and his younger brother Arthur were both at the wheel of the SF-24 for this first meeting of the weekend. It was also the first official session for the little brother of the winner of the last Monaco Grand Prix in Formula 1. A highlight for the Monegasques who share a passion for speed, but whose paths had to separate due to financing difficulties for Arthur. I saw how hurt my father was when he had to tell Arthur that he had to stop racing because we didn't have the financial means to do so. ", recalls the number 16 who benefited from the help of his late mentor Jules Bianchi and his manager Nicolas Todt.

Charles Leclerc was particularly moved: “ Knowing that tomorrow he will be with me in the first part of the race is a very special moment, not only for the two of us, but also, I think, for the whole family.» He confided in the pride he feels in sharing this moment with his family. “My mother will be coming here tomorrow to attend the first day, so it will be a very emotional moment, said Arthur's eldest.  I'm looking forward to it. He deserves it and I'm really happy for him." 

From Charles' first test in 2018 to Arthur's first FP1 in 2024 🔀

What a moment for Charles and Arthur today 🫶#AbuDhabiGP 🇦🇪 #F1 pic.twitter.com/jkWVetIDyV

— Team Ferrari HP (@ScuderiaFerrari) December 6, 2024

“From up there, my dad will be very proud.”

The father of the one-day teammates died in 2017, some time before Charles Leclerc was offered his first F1 seat at Sauber. He was the one who had given birth to this taste for motorsport within the siblings and who supported them in their sporting career. The eight-time Grand Prix winner gives him a moving nod: "I'm sure that from up there, my dad will be very proud of him for everything he has accomplished because it is thanks to the work but especially to the sacrifices of our parents that we are here."

It's a beautiful story that the Prancing Horse team allows to write by bringing together the two brothers within the Italian team: Arthur Leclerc is a development driver for the Scuderia, his brother Charles is the seat driver. Arthur Leclerc works in a simulator and helps prepare the car. To reward the young driver who competed in the 2024 European season Le Mans Series in LM P2 with Panis Racing from this work in the shadows, Ferrari allows him to become the teammate of his elder aboard the single-seater of Carlos Sainz, a few weeks after testing the brand's Hypercar during the Rookie Test of WEC in Bahrain.

Arthur Leclerc at the wheel of the Ferrari in this FP1! 🤩#AbuDhabiGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/ujsILjz8cE

— CANAL+ F1® (@CanalplusF1) December 6, 2024

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