P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Charles Leclerc lost his father when he was just 17 years old and competing in Formula 2.
Charles Leclerc revealed that his father’s passing in 2017 made him mature faster, as he considered his father a mentor. His father passed away just days before Leclerc’s Formula 2 Baku feature race win. Leclerc had actually announced an F1 contract to his father before his passing, which was only signed a month later. Winning the Monaco Grand Prix brought memories of his father, who sacrificed a lot for his racing career. In a podcast episode, Leclerc reflected on how losing his father at a young age accelerated his transition into adulthood and independence. Despite the challenges, the Leclerc family grew closer after the loss, with Charles taking on more responsibilities for his younger brother and mother.
