#family:pascale

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title: "Pascale Leclerc : Fonce, Charles !" source: monaco-matin series: f1, 2018

There is the big Charles on the track. And little Charles at home.

If the young Formula 1 driver is at the front of the stage, here, at home, in Monaco, his country, in the evening he returns to the family home, to his mother, “to play for an hour on his computer and have a few hours of well-deserved sleep."

The second of three children, Charles Leclerc received a lot of love from his parents, his brothers, but also from his grandparents and his uncle Thierry Manni. Charles Manni, the paternal grandfather, at the head of Mécaplast, the flagship of the Monegasque automobile industry, often spoke of this little boy: not with blind admiration, but with the pride of seeing his grandson giving himself the ways to succeed.

Car enthusiasts know the rising little wonder. The Monegasques and people from here know first and foremost this Fontvieille family: united, loving and also hardworking.

A certainly decisive element in the extraordinary career of this young man for whom everything seems to smile.

Luck ? Not only… According to Pascale Leclerc, his mother, who runs a hairdressing salon on the port of Fontvieille, “we have experienced the trials of life. If we went through them, they made us stronger and allowed us to progress to give our best.”

It is on these values ​​that Charles grew up. That he built himself.

He was only five years old when his dad Hervé put him in a kart. Immediately, there was enthusiasm. “There was a lightness in the way he drove his kart that wasn't there in the others. »

“He received a lot from his dad.”

“Charles on a circuit and Charles at home are not the same man,” explains his mother. With his dad, he only talked about cars. For Hervé, racing was his life. He was a pro. He had it in his blood. Charles was lucky. He received a lot from his dad. With me, none of that. Charles was a little boy his age. It’s true that from middle school onwards, it was more complicated. His grandmother, Hervé's mother, a catechism teacher, was very present to help him follow the correspondence courses. The Charles-III college where he was enrolled was very understanding. It was going very well. »

Pascale Leclerc says she has always been delighted by her son's happiness. “I always knew that Charles, like his two brothers, would go far. He is very calm, thoughtful, determined. I am very proud and happy that Lorenzo, Charles and Arthur, my three children, are realizing their dreams. I would not put any prohibition in their choice. When we see a child who leaves with enthusiasm and a smile on his face, we can only validate his life project. In kart, the first championships scared me a little. I no longer accompanied my son and my husband on shopping trips. I followed things up afterwards. It was my way of preserving the whole family. I'm the type to let my three sons live their lives and pursue their passion. »

And car racing fascinated his three children… “Lorenzo started karts late, at 14 years old. It was the time when Charles was increasingly entering the major championships. And he won all the prizes. A choice had to be made. We couldn't take on the financial burden of going karting for two children. So, for him, in consultation, we favored studies. »

Lorenzo therefore completed a scientific baccalaureate and continued his studies at the University of Monaco. Then he went to Reims for a few years to complete his studies. Today, he is in finance and invests in assets.

For six years, the family's rhythm was dictated by Charles' training and racing. “Free time, vacations, the family budget… everything was for karts when Charles was between 5 and 11 years old. » The young boy progressed and progressed, again and again. For the family, it was an increasingly difficult sacrifice. “When Charles was 11, for us parents, it was no longer financially possible. Nicolas Todt arrived at the right time. He signed a contract and took Charles to where he is today. »

Throughout his adolescence, the little Monegasque continued to progress. Always and always. Today, he is on the starting line for one of the most symbolic races of his career. In addition to training, he had to respond to incessant requests: cocktails, interviews, brand representations... “We ask a lot of them,” emphasizes the mother. He no longer has time for himself. »

In F1 at 20 years old, what's it like to get a big head? “We are simple people. We must give enthusiasts the opportunity to share Charles’ dream. And for that Charles must remain within everyone's reach. He will discover a world that is not as simple as that, I think. I will do everything to keep him himself. »

But this rhythm is part of the profession as he wanted it since his earliest childhood. It may even be an additional engine. “It’s when there are very hard moments that he surprises us the most. He picked up points in the last two races he did. That reassured him. It was important for his mind. He is mentally well today. I am so proud of my son…”

Today, Charles therefore has all the assets to run a very good race. He is a young man in the making. “Everything fell into place for him to be where he is today. He will continue. He will be champion in F1. His goal is the podium. And he's going to get there. For sure. »

Today, Pascale Leclerc will be watching the race, certainly just as focused on the screen or the track of the cars as Charles is on the track at the wheel of his Sauber.

The mother and son both know that Hervé is with them, up there; “like Jules Bianchi”.

Any last maternal advice? “Go for it, Charles!” »

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Mark: I think the other thing about Charles is, he comes from such a grounded family. Um, you know, his mother, Pascale, is a hairdresser in Monaco. And David Coulthard tells a great story about how, you know, he was in having his haircut in Monaco. And the hairdresser said to him, you know, where are you going this weekend?-- I forget which Grand Prix it was-- Anyway, at that Grand Prix, DC is walking through the paddock and he sees his hairdresser and he goes over to her and he says, what the heck are you doing here? And she was like, oh, well, I just, you know, I had a paddock pass. So I thought I'd come in and have a wander around and he said, yeah, but why are you here? And she said, oh, my son's racing.

[Laughing]

And he says, who's your son? Oh, it's Charles Leclerc. And--

Stuart: You know, it's a shame she didn't say "it is he."

[More laughing]

Mark: Uh, but the point that DC makes is that it shows you the down to earth nature of the family. The mother is not cutting DC's hair saying, oh, I've got this son, he's going to be a future world champion. And can you help me by introducing him to Red Bull-- had never mentioned it at all. Never mentioned it. Very, very grounded and, and I think that comes across from Charles, you don't get the opinion of an overinflated ego there. Quite the contrary.

Source: Flat Chat with Codders by GP Racing Series: F1, 2021

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Xavi: P4, P4. Slow button on. You did a good job. Pretty good job. Charles: No, I did a shit job. A shit job. Xavi: You did- Charles: I did a shit job. A shit job. That's it. I did a shit job. I am so sorry for the whole team. I am fucking stupid. As much as in Baku. Congratulation to, to Seb. He deserves it. It has not been a, a good year for him. And yeah, even if I, I'm so fucking pissed off, of myself. Uh. He's done a great job and I hope you will enjoy it.

source: canal+ via leclercnews on twitter series: f1, 2020

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source: a september 2022 gazetta article, as translated by twitter's leclercnews season: 2022, f1

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source: charles' facebook series: gp3, 2016

(Translation from @baku2017: "Well I see that everyone is enjoying their holidays, Charles has run away sailing and for dad swimming pool with his duck.......not chained.. of course.")

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Charles visits his old school before swinging by his mother's salon. Source: Canal+, dated around the 2019 Monaco Grand Prix.

A translation, courtesy of @softtdaisy:

Charles: It's crazy how everything seems bigger when you're a child. I thought it was huge here. I had my first girlfriend here-- I don;'t know if we can call that my first girlfriend. I must have been six for my first kiss.

[Charles greets teacher]

Teacher: How are you?

Charles: Good, and you?

Teacher: Yes! It's nice to see you in the neigborhood.

Charles: Yes, we’re making some videos.

Teacher: You’re welcome in your old school.

Charles: Thank you very much.

Interviewer: Speaking of your old student, how were his grades?

Teacher: I was his teacher, it stays confidential. But look how he succeeded. He’s the pride of the school.

[Starts heading to salon]

Charles: Wait, I'm going to call my mom to warn her. My mom is a hairdresser; I think she's going to kiss me and go back to her salon really quickly.

[Charles calls his mom]

Charles: Yes mom. I’m coming. Don’t worry, don’t stress. See you in a minute. Ciao ciao, kisses.

[Charles walks up the steps as Pascale exits her salon]

Charles: Coucou! How are you? You have a lot of work?

Pascale: Yes, look what’s waiting for me.

Charles: Look, they’re over there! We try to see each other tonight?

Pascale: That works!

Charles: Ciao ciao, kisses.

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David Coulthard is not the only former F1 driver to get his hair cut by Pascale-- she also has Mark Webber as a client:

source: virtualstatman on twitter

And it was confirmed as recently as 2022 that she's still cutting his hair:

source: payne_matt on twitter

Mark: I think the other thing about Charles is, he comes from such a grounded family. Um, you know, his mother, Pascale, is a hairdresser in Monaco. And David Coulthard tells a great story about how, you know, he was in having his haircut in Monaco. And the hairdresser said to him, you know, where are you going this weekend?-- I forget which Grand Prix it was-- Anyway, at that Grand Prix, DC is walking through the paddock and he sees his hairdresser and he goes over to her and he says, what the heck are you doing here? And she was like, oh, well, I just, you know, I had a paddock pass. So I thought I'd come in and have a wander around and he said, yeah, but why are you here? And she said, oh, my son's racing.

[Laughing]

And he says, who's your son? Oh, it's Charles Leclerc. And--

Stuart: You know, it's a shame she didn't say "it is he."

[More laughing]

Mark: Uh, but the point that DC makes is that it shows you the down to earth nature of the family. The mother is not cutting DC's hair saying, oh, I've got this son, he's going to be a future world champion. And can you help me by introducing him to Red Bull-- had never mentioned it at all. Never mentioned it. Very, very grounded and, and I think that comes across from Charles, you don't get the opinion of an overinflated ego there. Quite the contrary.

Source: Flat Chat with Codders by GP Racing Series: F1, 2021