SUMMARY
- Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, a sensation in F1, emerges from a modest background, resonating with fans who admire his journey.
- David Coulthard's surprise encounter with Leclerc's mother reveals the racer's unassuming background.
Speaking of career transformation from humble beginnings to a Formula 1 driver, Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc is one of a kind. His days of struggle do not come off as a surprising tale for his doting fans. They also must have heard the Monegasque talk about his mother, Pascale Leclerc, who is also a hairdresser. Leclerc owes his mother some of the credit for his much-loved paddock looks and hairstyles.
However, before this story became well-known, it caught a former driver off guard. Retired British driver, David Coulthard happens to be one of Mama Leclerc’s elite clientele. Back then, Coulthard was unaware of Charles Leclerc’s connection with his go-to hairdresser at Monaco which happens to be Pascale. Coulthard shared the amusing encounter with the media, where Pascale unexpectedly appeared in the paddock.
Surprise encounter: Coulthard’s hairdresser revealed as Charles Leclerc’s mother
As a young boy with a dream to drive for Ferrari, which Lewis Hamilton also agreed to, the 26-year-old soared to fame with Prancing Horse. Yet, he manages to remain grounded. David Coulthard frequently shares the story of his hair appointment in Monaco. One race week, while chatting about his upcoming races, he discovered his hairdresser strolling in the paddock.
the way dc used to get his hair cut by charles’ mum pascale pic.twitter.com/BiirrvzYbe
— ria (@ferra_ria) February 18, 2024
Upon approaching her to inquire about how she happened to be there, she told him that she had a paddock pass. Utterly confused, Coulthard believed that she must have misunderstood him and repeated himself. To this, she exclaimed, “Oh, my son is racing. It’s Charles Leclerc.”
Drawing parallels between their humble demeanor, the former Red Bull driver compared Leclerc to his mother. During a podcast interview, Matt Gallagher read, “[She was] very very grounded and I think that comes across from Charles. You don’t get the opinion of an over-inflated ego there. Quite the contrary. He seems to be only too happy to admit when he screws things up.”
The duo attributed the Ferrari driver’s humble nature to his down-to-earth upbringing by his mother.
Charles Leclerc: Unassuming start to great success
Charles Leclerc stands out as one of the top-tier drivers in the F1 circuit. With his remarkable journey in Ferrari and a captivating career trajectory, he has brought him a massive fan following. Famed for his fine driving skills, Leclerc has time and again demonstrated his prowess across various racing series long before stepping into F1.
What a masterpiece Pascale created!
💫❤@Charles_Leclerc@arthur_leclerc7#LeclercFamily #FamilyFirst pic.twitter.com/wd6YYcdhk5— Simona (@icanalwaysdream) August 10, 2021
Entering the Formula Racing Series, particularly F1, is a big challenge for many in terms of finances, given its high costs as drivers progress. Many young drivers struggle in their early careers, whereas others are privileged enough to secure sponsorships or aid from familial ties. Despite hailing from Monte Carlo, Leclerc comes from a modest background, unlike some affluent peers in the sport.
His father, Herve Leclerc drove in Formula 3 back in the day and faced monetary issues. Charles Leclerc’s karting training was primarily funded by his grandparents. Within the Leclerc household, Charles holds the middle ground, with a younger brother and budding prodigy at motorsports, Arthur, and an elder brother, Lorenzo.