Charles Leclerc admits it would be a dream come true when he lines up for his first ever Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix this weekend.
The Sauber driver will become the first Monegasque since Olivier Beretta in 1994 to race in front of his home crowd around the streets of Monte Carlo and he heads to the Principality in good form after scoring points in each of the last two races.
Speaking of his emotions, the Ferrari junior is looking forward to the support he will receive but, despite having raced in F2 last year, is expecting an experience around his hometown like he has never had before.
“There are a lot of emotions for me, with my first F1 Monaco Grand Prix coming up this weekend,” Leclerc said. “I have dreamt of being part of this event ever since I was a child and it is incredible for this dream to finally come true.
“It will be nice to have my friends and family there to support me, and I look forward to sharing this special moment with the Monegasque people. Driving on city circuits is something I always enjoy, and I love the challenge that it brings to me as a driver.
“Although I know the city well, it will be a completely new experience for me to drive on the streets of Monte Carlo in an F1 car.
“I look forward to gaining a different perspective on my hometown. It will be an unforgettable weekend for me, and I can’t wait for it to start.”
After recent results, the 20-year-old is starting to prove why he arrived on the grid this season with such high expectations, following his dominant year in F2 in 2017.
Indeed, now his stock is getting even higher with Sauber’s Xevi Pujolar seeing the potential Leclerc has.
“He is a potential champion, definitely,” he said. “The way he is very demanding with himself, I’ve seen in other drivers like him. He does everything to the maximum and until he does, he’s not happy.”
Having previously worked with Max Verstappen at Toro Rosso, Pujolar is well-placed to assess what could be a rivalry of the future.
“They’re the kind of people who ultimately win because they’re always looking for their limits,” he explained.
“He [Charles] has many things I have seen in other great drivers, but I prefer not to compare. What I can say is that if the car improves he would do great results.”
