He was destined to be at the pinnacle of Formula 1. But in a tragic turn of events, lost his life doing what he loved most – racing. The late Jules Bianchi, former Marussia F1 driver, succumbed to the injuries he sustained in a crash at the 2014 Japanese GP. But Charles Leclerc, to whom he was a godfather, is now in some manner, carrying his legacy forward in motorsport. And the bond that the Monegasque shares with Bianchi’s dad, Philippe Bianchi, is very dear to both.

Leclerc’s father, Herve Leclerc, and Jules’ father, Philippe, had a very great friendship. And naturally, as the racing DNA flowed down a generation, their sons shared a close relationship as well. Jules was Charles’ godfather too. But tragically, the Monegasque lost his dad to an illness and Philippe lost his son to a crash at Suzuka.

At a marathon karting event dedicated to Jules’ legacy at the Le Castellet circuit, Philippe Bianchi emotionally opened up about his relationship with Charles. He said, “Fate has made me lose my little one and him, his dad. It feels good to see each other. We remember a lot of memories, beautiful things that we all did together. and we have the impression that they are always with us.”

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Fate might not have favored this duo, but they still moved on to make the most of their relationship. Moreover, Charles wasn’t just present at the event but also raced in a Kart alongside the other competitors.

Charles Leclerc honors Jules Bianchi by participating in a 42-hour marathon karting event

Last weekend, instead of taking the wheel of his Ferrari‘s SF-23, Charles Leclerc went karting at the Paul-Ricard circuit. It wasn’t just a regular event. The endurance challenge, spanning 42 hours, 19 minutes, and 50 seconds, was dedicated to Jules Bianchi.

Supporting the JB17 association, Leclerc took the wheel of Kart number 17 and raced for 1 hour (in a relay stint) from 2 a.m. to 3 a.m. before returning to the track the next afternoon. He even waved the flag at the end, marking the completion of the event.

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Jules might have passed away, but his presence is still felt in the world of motorsport. He left a legacy that his godson and close friend Leclerc carries on in Formula 1.