• Monaco has always been represented abroad by the princely family.

  • In recent years, another Monegasque has made the Principality shine through his talent: Charles Leclerc.

  • The 23-year-old driver is taking part this weekend in his third Monaco Grand Prix in F1 under the colors of the most famous team in the world: Ferrari.

Monaco is: a 2 km2 State with more than 38,000 inhabitants, the Rock, a Grand Prix and the princely family as a showcase for this world.

A family that has always intrigued, "especially at a certain time", comments Henry Jean Servat, who wrote about the Principality for years, notably in his latest book

So chic!

“There came a time when at the slightest deed and gesture of a member of the princely family, he found himself on the front page of

Paris Match

, analyzes the writer.

Now it is different.

The Sovereign Prince has been in office for a long time, no one talks about him anymore because there is nothing new to say.

The adventures of Monaco are extinguished, especially with this time because it is a place made for celebration and joy.

"

In the meantime, it is another Monegasque who shines the colors of the flag internationally.

Charles Leclerc, 23, is currently 5th in the standings of the Formula 1 World Drivers' Championship, with Scuderia Ferrari, the most famous team in the world.

The one with the most fans as well, although the car is not currently the best on the grid, trailing far behind Mercedes or RedBull Racing.

The "local darling" will participate all weekend in the Monaco Grand Prix to try to climb on the podium.

In Spain, two weeks ago, he came in fourth place.

The next Hamilton?

"Clearly, he will become one of the most famous pilots in the world," says Franck Anfosso, founder of the Charles Leclerc Fans site. When Lewis Hamilton retires, he will take his place ”. This Varois spotted the driver when he was karting in 2012. “133 race weekends and more than 600 articles published later, we are still here! He exclaims.

But unlike the image conveyed by the Rock, the Monegasque is rather "someone simple, human".

Quite the opposite of the British driver who is "a character" according to the fan, which means that he is spoken of beyond F1.

For the creator of the site, “Monaco, first and foremost, is Prince Albert II.

It's like the Queen of England, everyone knows.

Charles Leclerc is part of a universe where you have to take an interest in the field to get an idea of ​​who he is ”.

An opinion shared by Henry Jean Servat even if this sport gathered on average 87.4 million viewers per Grand Prix during the 2020 season. And is experiencing an explosion in popularity thanks to the Netflix series on the discipline,

Drive to Survive

.

"He has already done a lot for the Principality"

Franck Anfosso underlines the place taken by Leclerc over the years, in particular with the arrival of a new audience from Asia and the Middle East. A global fan base that would reach 506 million people according to F1 figures in 2019. “Without being the best, he has already done a lot for the Principality. There have only been three pilots from Monaco in history. At 21, Charles Leclerc had already won Grand Prix twice. However, he keeps his head on his shoulders and continues to perform very well ”.

His track record, he knows “95%”.

At the time, he had "bet on the right horse".

Without a doubt, Franck Anfosso is convinced that with "his talent, Charles Leclerc can make the podium" on Sunday.

This weekend, the driver will be “at home”, to participate in his third Monaco Grand Prix in F1, a race he has never finished, in F1 as in F2.

Canceled last year because of the health crisis, the race returns with a gauge set at 7,500 spectators, normally the stands can accommodate 22,000 people.

It is the most watched Grand Prix, in 2019, F1 announced an audience of 110 million viewers worldwide.

What to make Leclerc even a little more famous in the event of victory.

Sport

The Monaco Grand Prix with 7,500 spectators who must have been tested

Sport

Charles Leclerc wins the first victory of his career and pays tribute to Anthoine Hubert

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