Formula 1: The lie Charles Leclerc told his father before his death

Before the father of Formula 1 driver Charles Leclerc, Herve, passed away, his son told him a lie, a lie that turned into a lifelong dream-fulfilling reality.

In June of 2017, Charles Leclerc, who was a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy at the time, was in the midst of his rookie Formula 2 season, which ended up being a championship-winning season for him, driving for Prema Racing.

The father of the then 20-year-old Monegasque, Herve, was ill at this time, and it was clear that the end was near for him after his health deteriorated slowly over the course of several months.

Before Herve passed away at the age of 54, Charles told him something that he died believing. What Charles told him was not true, but his lie became a reality, and this reality is set to become a lifelong dream-fulfilling reality for the young driver this year.

Charles told Herve that he had signed with a Formula 1 team for the 2018 season, but in June of 2017, he had not yet done so. Here is what he had to say about the matter, according to the BBC.

"“It was a bit earlier than I had really signed, but in the end I didn’t lie because I am here and now in Ferrari, which feels incredible.”"

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Leclerc ended up landing a ride with Alfa Romeo Sauber for the 2018 season, as he signed with the team later that year in December.

Before his rookie Formula 1 season ended but following several months of speculation about the matter, Leclerc signed with Scuderia Ferrari for the 2019 season, as the Maranello-based team opted to sign him as the replacement for 2007 Formula 1 champion Kimi Raikkonen, a move that had been rumored since before he signed with Sauber for the 2018 season and even before the 2017 season ended.

Leclerc, whose father’s goal for him was “to be in F1 and to be world champion”, now has a chance to contend for the championship in just his second season in the sport, as Ferrari are one of the sport’s three top-tier teams that have combined to win each of the last 118 races going back to the 2013 season opener.

This opportunity is a well-earned opportunity for the 2016 GP3 Series champion and 2017 Formula 2 champion, as it comes after his ultra-impressive rookie season during which he scored 39 points and recorded 10 top 10 finishes for a team whose other drivers in the 2016, 2017 and 2018 seasons scored only 16 points and recorded only nine top 10 finishes in those three seasons combined.

Leclerc finished in 13th place in the driver standings. He recorded a career-high sixth place finish in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix and four seventh place finishes in the Russian Grand Prix, the Mexican Grand Prix, the Brazilian Grand Prix and the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

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How will Charles Leclerc perform in his first season driving for Ferrari in Formula 1? How many races will he win, and where will he finish in the driver standings? He is set to make his debut as a driver for the Prancing Horse on Sunday, March 17 in the Australian Grand Prix at Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit in Melbourne, Australia, which is set to be broadcast live on ESPN beginning at 1:10 a.m. ET.

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