Leclerc ready to take risks in shortened season

What if the pantagruelian banquet initially announced, with its inevitable lengths, remained only a cheese of character and a tasty dessert, before a full-bodied and very nervous espresso? Forgive us for the culinary analogy; it was inspired by Charles Leclerc, who started cooking during confinement.

While waiting to compete with Cyril Lignac, the pilot Ferrari would like to take a bite out of his opponents when the 2020 season resumes. A campaign which was to have 22 dishes but risks being reduced to a bare portion given the current health situation.

Like his hungry little comrades, Leclerc will not be choosy and even thinks that a frugal feast would not lack spice!

“If there are fewer challenges, people will want to be bolder, points out the Scuderia virtuoso. There could be surprises and the competition could turn out to be even more exciting to watch.

Mercedes and Lewis (Hamilton, Editor's note) remain favorites, even though the championship should take place in only 8 rounds (the minimum necessary to award titles, Editor's note).

It will be very hard to beat them. We will take more risks with strategy or in overtaking maneuvers and maybe it will pay off. I hope so, anyway ".

The other side of things

The current trend is towards a reopening of restaurant kitchens F1 at the beginning of July, without customers in the room however but under the eye of the cameras all the same. The hygiene services also recommend a double ration of certain dishes, particularly Austrian and British, initially.

Gourmet Leclerc has no problem with it but nevertheless suggests revisiting the dishes a little to enhance the taste. And too bad if some are allergic to the meager ingredients available and would have preferred other options, absent from the menu.

“We can always question the fairness of sport (if several races take place in the same place, Editor’s note) but in the end you have to try to do the best you can given the situation, notes the one who discovered a passion for simracing during the widespread quarantine and now walks around his home dressed as a banana after fans sent him the costume.

I've read things like you could go down the trail in reverse. That would be super cool. We would have to completely relearn the route from the beginning. I already did it in karting and it's like driving on another circuit. That would spice things up.

Well, that wouldn't totally change the face of the world either. Lewis will always be at the front but it would be great to do a track in reverse, especially Silverstone and its sequence of Magotts, Becketts, Chapel. And then, that would force us to find other settings to adapt the behavior of the car to this new configuration.”

While waiting to take risks on the track, Leclerc opted for caution behind the stove at his Monaco home.

“I cook pasta and chicken, at least I make pasta well, smiles the maestro in search of his first star. I don't take too much risk. Basically, I like plain pasta. I know, it's not crazy. I tried carbonara recently and the result was not bad.”

Looking forward to the next season of Top Chef! You'll just have to take off this banana costume Charles...