Earlier, in the first practice session, Leclerc’s brother Arthur, a Ferrari development driver, drove Carlos Sainz’s car.
It was an emotional day for the entire Leclerc family. Their mother Pascale was in the Ferrari pit, and on Thursday Charles Leclerc spoke about what it meant to the family, who lost father Herve to cancer in 2017.
“It is definitely a very, very special moment for not only me, not only for Arthur, but I think for the whole family,” Charles said, “because I can only see how much sacrifices my parents have done when I was younger for us to continue.
“They had to stop Arthur’s career at one point because they could not afford to pay for both of us. It is special for how much my father has given to help our careers. It is a dream, for both of us.
“I know how much it meant for my father to be able to restart Arthur’s career. When he did that, he was so happy. It’s very special also for that, for how much my father has given to us in order to pursue our dream. So it will be a moment I will forever remember for sure.”