Charles Leclerc is living his dream at Ferrari. A dream his friend and sporting godfather Jules Bianchi gave him a glimpse into, by taking him to the Ferrari HQ for the first time in his life. Not allowed to enter the HQ at the time, Charles mostly waited for his friend at the reception.

However, during that time, Charles would have never thought about how things will turn out. The tragic death of Bianchi would’ve certainly been devastating for Leclerc. But now, being the face of Ferrari, Charles is surely making his friend proud.

Charles Leclerc describes his first visit to the Ferrari HQ

Leclerc’s first-ever visit to the Ferrari HQ was just a visit with a friend. The friend was Jules Bianchi, who was part of the Ferrari driver academy. Fast forward to today, Leclerc is now helping Ferrari lead both the championships this season.

Fates truly changed for the two, as Bianchi tragically passed away in 2015 at the hospital from the injuries he sustained at the time of his accident in the Japanese Grand Prix nine months earlier. His death was the first, which resulted from a Grand Prix since Senna.

Sharing his experience about the Ferrari HQ visit with his friend, Charles said, “The first time I was taken by Jules Bianchi, my friend and sports godfather. I was still small, I was 12, and I was very impressed. I was not allowed to enter, I remained at the reception, sitting on a sofa waiting for Jules, who then he was part of the Ferrari Driver Academy.”  

Read More: F1 Fans Voice Their Concern as Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc Partakes in a Dangerous Activity

Charles saw his future through the eyes of his friend there and joined the Ferrari driver academy six years later when he turned 18. And just 2 years later, he became a full-time F1 driver for Sauber.

Leclerc tells his fans what ‘Passione Ferrari’ is all about

Leclerc explains how everyone involved with Ferrari works with a certain intensity. “The thing that strikes me most at Ferrari, now that I live it from the inside, is the passion and attention to detail. I had always heard of ‘Passione Ferrari’, but until you really work with the team, it’s hard to imagine how much attachment and involvement there is in each person. The attention that everyone puts into every little thing to achieve maximum performance is incredible,” explained Charles.

Watch This Story: F1 Drivers To Be Granted A Citizenship In Multiple Countries

The reds have poured all the passion and hard work into the F1-75. The car is a work of art and we can clearly see that the machine is the best one on the grid. Only time will tell us how far they take it this time.