Charles Leclerc reveals which leisure activities are apparently not particularly welcome at Ferrari – one thing tops the list of banned activities
For Formula 1 drivers, their teams’ responsibility does not end at the chequered flag. Even in their free time, Charles Leclerc and his colleagues have to be mindful of the risks they take. On the sidelines of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, the Ferrari driver spoke openly about these restrictions.
“Well, I’m not a five-year-old any more, but there are a few restrictions,” says Leclerc with a wink. The list isn’t particularly long, however. What’s more, he does have opportunities to get exceptions: if he asks the team nicely, his requests are “usually” granted.
One activity, however, is unlikely to even be up for discussion: skydiving. “Skydiving is probably not recommended,” explains the Monegasque, expressing his surprise. “But I’d already thought as much. In that sense, it’s a bit strange to restrict skydiving.”
He isn’t a big fan of skydiving anyway. He has, however, already given it a go once, and apparently Ferrari didn’t have particularly fond memories of that experience. “The one time I did it, they weren’t particularly happy about it. That’s why I don’t do it anymore.”
With skiing, it depends on the timing
The situation is less clear-cut when it comes to skiing. Here, Leclerc isn’t talking about a ban. Rather, he believes the drivers themselves are responsible for weighing up the risk.
“ “When it comes to skiing, it’s not that we’re restricted, but we are, in a sense, responsible for ourselves,” explains the Ferrari driver. After all, skiing is “not exactly the safest sport”. That’s why Leclerc adjusts his behaviour throughout the year to better weigh up the risks of injury.
Immediately after the end of the season, he can still go skiing or take part in riskier sports in general. “The closer you get to the season, the fewer risky sports I’ll do,” he says, explaining his approach.
Alexander Albon also confirms that he lives by similar guidelines. “It’s exactly the same for me,” says the Williams driver. “I think Red Bull might be a bit more understanding when it comes to extreme sports”—after all, that’s part of the brand’s core identity. “But at least here, we’ll be keeping a bit of an eye on things.”
Albon cites bungee jumping as a specific example. “I think that’s one of those things,” he says, immediately adding that he isn’t a big fan of it himself anyway: “I’m not really a bungee jumper either. I can’t think of anything else off the top of my head. Yes, skiing is one of my sports too.”