WATCH: Charles Leclerc was once abandoned on the track by his brother and teammates to go to a party while he was driving in a 24-hour karting race

Charles Leclerc is now an established F1 driver, representing Scuderia Ferrari at the pinnacle of motorsport. However, his fondest memories go back to his karting days. It wasn’t always happy times for the Monegasque in the Kartin scene. One time he was left stranded on track at a 24-hour-long karting event.

Leclerc recalls the memorable incident from his younger days when he demonstrated remarkable determination and endurance. Alongside his close companion, the late Jules Bianchi, Leclerc frequently competed in karting events. One particular event that stands out in his memory is a 24-hour karting race, where he formed a team with his brother Lorenzo Leclerc, Bianchi, and Norman Nato.

During the race, at 3 AM, Bianchi handed over the wheel to Leclerc, intending for him to drive for just one hour while the rest of the team took a break and went out to celebrate. However, as the hour passed, the Monegasque realized his teammates had not returned. Despite feeling exhausted, he continued driving to maintain their significant lead.

Leclerc pushed through fatigue for a grueling five hours and battled to keep the lead intact. He recalls thinking, “I did not want to stop because I did not want to lose.” By the time 8 AM rolled around, his teammates finally arrived, saving him from his physically and mentally demanding task. Reflecting on the experience, Leclerc fondly remembers the determination that fueled him during those intense hours behind the wheel. Although completely drained afterward, his commitment to the team’s success was unwavering, even in the face of exhaustion.

Related: Charles Leclerc reveals plans of possibly competing in LeMans following Ferrari’s glorious win after 58 years

Charles Leclerc found his close friend and rival Max Verstappen in his Karting days

In the early races of the 2022 season, there was an intense rivalry between Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc as they vied for the title. However, Verstappen ultimately emerged as the dominant force and secured a convincing victory after a closely contested opening phase. This rivalry isn’t new, however, with the pair familiar with each other since the young age of 14.

Following a 2012 go-kart race, two talented young drivers were disqualified after a contact incident in the closing stages, even beyond the finish line. Max Verstappen, visibly upset, stormed away from the scene accompanied by his father, Jos. He expressed frustration, stating, “No, he’s just unfair. I’m leading, he wants to pass, he pushed me, I push him back and after he pushed me off the track, it’s not fair huh?”

The World Super Kart Euro Series host swiftly arranged an interview with the other 14-year-old driver involved in the disqualification, Charles Leclerc. Unsurprisingly, Leclerc had a different perspective on the incident. When asked what happened with Max, he simply replied, “Nothing, it’s just an incident on the race.” It looks as Charles Leclerc’s calm demeanor and Max Verstappen’s aggression are traits rooting back to their childhood.

Their paths diverged after their karting days as they transitioned into open-wheel racing in 2014. Verstappen’s tenure in the junior categories was brief before he made history as Formula 1’s youngest-ever driver at 17 in 2015. Leclerc, on the other hand dominated GP3 and Formula 2.

In case you missed it:

• Charles Leclerc heaps support for victims at Imola, raises over $110,000 flood relief funds
• Ex-F1 driver claims Max Verstappen could have delivered Ferrari a championship if he was driving instead Charles Leclerc

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