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A native of Monaco, Charles Leclerc will make his Formula 1 debut during the first official free practice session of the British Grand Prix, joining two other Monegasque drivers who have already made their mark on the sport.
The glittering streets of Monaco have welcomed more world champion drivers than they have ever produced, and the principality's racing record amounts to a few footnotes in Formula 1 history. With a population of around 37,000, this tiny state has seen only three of its sons line up on the starting grid of a Grand Prix.
The story begins in 1950, when Louis Chiron, 50, a pre-war ace, competed in the first Formula 1 season at the wheel of a battered Maserati. Despite the car's shortcomings, he managed to finish on the podium in his home race, the only highlight of an otherwise inconsistent F1 career. Chiron's record is more impressive in motorsport and Formula 2, and he still holds the record for the oldest driver to have started a Grand Prix, having competed at the age of 55 in the 1955 Monaco Grand Prix. It would be 44 years before a second Monegasque driver appeared in the elite. Olivier Beretta, a 24-year-old protégé of Nelson Piquet, made his debut in 1994 with the modest Larousse team. He qualified for every race of the season, but his best result was seventh place at Hockenheim and eighth place in his home Grand Prix, a result that earned him no points under the scoring system at the time. Financial constraints and modest performances brought his F1 career to an end, but he went on to distinguish himself in sports prototype series, competing several times in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and winning six victories in the GT category. Williams even called him back for private testing in the early 2000s. A new chapter is now beginning. Charles Leclerc, 18, mentored by Nicolas Todt and linked to the family of the late Jules Bianchi, has secured a few free practice sessions with Haas for the rest of the season. These sessions will be the first real indicator of whether the third driver from the principality can translate the rich heritage of the Grand Prix into a lasting presence in Formula 1.
