In 2017, Charles Leclerc established himself as the “Golden Boy” of motorsport, clinching the FIA Formula 2 Championship in its inaugural season.
His victory not only crowned him the first champion of this new era but also opened new paths for him.
How Charles Leclerc Became the 2017 Formula 2 Champion
Born in 1997, in Monaco, Charles Leclerc was introduced to motorsport at a young age. His father, Hervé Leclerc, a former racing driver, nurtured his passion for racing.
Leclerc quickly showcased his talent in karting, winning several championships, including the prestigious CIK-FIA World Karting Championship.
After excelling in karting, he transitioned to single-seater racing in 2014, joining the Formula 2.0 series. His accomplishments caught the attention of Scuderia Ferrari.
Ferrari identified his potential at an early stage, enlisting him in the Driver Academy program in 2016. Under Ferrari’s guidance, Leclerc excelled, winning the GP3 Championship title that season.
Dominance in The 2017 F2 Season
Leclerc joined Prema Racing for the 2017 FIA Formula 2 Championship and wasted no time in making his mark. From his very first race in Bahrain, where he stormed to pole position and a strategic sprint race victory, it was clear that this rookie was something special.
Through a mid-race pit stop strategy he managed to overtake 13 drivers in nine laps to claim his maiden F2 victory.
From P14 👉 P1 🔥
One of the most impressive drives of @Charles_Leclerc‘s career, and his maiden win in #F2! 🤯#BahrainGP 🇧🇭 #RoadToF1 pic.twitter.com/qEXbX8s9bA
— Formula 2 (@Formula2) March 17, 2022
Throughout the season, Leclerc’s performances dazzled. He claimed victories in Sakhir, Barcelona, Baku, Spielberg and Silverstone.
One of the standout moments of the season was in Austria, where the Monegasque started seventh in the sprint race but managed to carve through the field with stunning overtakes to take the win.
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Sealing the Championship
He collected a total of 282 points by the season’s end, achieving seven race victories and ten podium places. He concluded the season with 72 points in front of the very seasoned Artem Markelov.
Claiming the Formula 2 championship in his rookie season made him the youngest-ever GP2/Formula 2 champion at that time.
Winning the Formula 2 title as a rookie, made him the then-youngest GP2/Formula 2 champion at 19 years and 356 years old.
On this day in 2017, @Charles_Leclerc became the first-ever #F2 champion! 🏆🥳#RoadToF1 pic.twitter.com/xd0VloMQfM
— Formula 2 (@Formula2) October 7, 2024
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Overcoming Personal Tragedy
Leclerc‘s path to the championship was not without hardship.
In June 2017, during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend, Leclerc’s father passed away. The loss was a devastating blow for the young driver, yet he opted to honour his father’s memory by competing in the race.
Despite the emotional weight, he dedicated his pole position and feature race victory to his father.
From Formula 2 to Formula 1
Winning the Formula 2 Championship was a ticket to the pinnacle of motorsport.
In 2018, Leclerc made his Formula 1 debut with Alfa Romeo Sauber. His exceptional performances earned him a promotion to Scuderia Ferrari in 2019, becoming the youngest driver to race for the team since 1961.
Despite the immense pressure of driving for the sport’s most iconic team, Leclerc was fearless.
In his debut season with Ferrari, he won two races, secured seven pole positions in qualifying and finished fourth in the Championship.
All these years later though, Leclerc’s 2017 F2 season remains one of the most impressive racing campaigns in the history of the series.
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