Surprise in Monte Carlo: Leclerc’s helmet goes to… a rival!
The void left in the calendar by the canceled races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia has forced the Formula 1 circus to get creative this April, balancing simulator training with a few off-track surprises.
While international politics keep the engines silent in the Middle East, the drivers have found ways to stay busy. Max Verstappen has taken refuge in the corners of the Nürburgring to prepare for the 24 Hours, while Lance Stroll opted to get back into his racing suit for the GT World Challenge debut at Paul Ricard. On the French coast, Isack Hadjar and Esteban Ocon are training to participate in the upcoming Historic GP at Le Castellet on May 9th, driving vintage Red Bull and Haas cars.
The technicians aren’t resting either. Some are working relentlessly at the factories on upgrades for Miami, while others are clocking miles with Pirelli at Mugello, as previously scheduled in the testing program. In short, despite what some might think, nobody is taking a break.
The same applies to Ferrari, where all eyes are on the stopwatch to catch up with Mercedes. In Maranello, work is frantic on the SF-26, with the goal of fast-tracking technical solutions for the Monza filming day. The plan is to finalize a new floor and a specific rear wing (the famous “Macarena”) to arrive in Miami with a pre-validated evolutionary package.
Meanwhile, Charles Leclerc, though fully focused on the season (to the point of hiring a “top-secret” team), found time to attend social events in the Principality. But it was here that the news took an unexpected turn…
Leclerc auctions his helmet for charity: The buyer is a surprise name!
During a gala evening at the Monaco Ambassadors Club, many Formula 1 guests took part in a charity auction. One of the highlights of the night was one of Leclerc’s race helmets. Amidst a flurry of bids, the price skyrocketed, eventually hitting €120,000.
Business as usual? Not quite – not once you realize who placed the winning bid: none other than Flavio Briatore. The current Alpine advisor decided to take home the Ferrari driver’s memorabilia, leaving Leclerc visibly surprised and amused by the Italian manager’s move.
VIDEO – LECLERC’S REACTION TO BRIATORE’S PURCHASE!
Alpine’s men are closing in on Ferrari in more ways than one: the A526 is performing so well that the Scuderia might just have an extra rival to worry about as the season progresses.
Photo: Scuderia Ferrari
