Red, black, white… and the number 17. This weekend, at Suzuka, Charles Leclerc decided to pay homage to Jules Bianchi by wearing a helmet which takes up the design dear to the Nice pilot who suffered a terrible accident during the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix.
“A special helmet in memory of a very special person to me. It’s been 10 years since we lost Jules here in Japan. So many memories together that I will never forget. I miss you and I will do my best to bring this helmet to the top of the podium on Sunday”.
It is with this message posted this Friday on his social networks that the Monegasque driver of Scuderia Ferrari announced the wink addressed to his sporting godfather who died in July 2015 in Nice following the collision of the Marussia N°17 which occurred nine months earlier against a lifting machine operating in turn 7 of the Japanese track.
A close friend of the Leclerc family, Jules Bianchi had supported Charles from his first laps in karting on the Brignoles track. A true mentor, he also allowed him to make the big leap to single-seaters by recommending him to his manager, Nicolas Todt.
Ranked 2nd in the drivers’ championship after three races, the ambassador of the Principality set the 6th time in free practice 1 of the Japanese Grand Prix, 0”502 behind the reference time established by reigning champion Max Verstappen (Red Bull) , this Friday morning.
