Charles Leclerc remembers Jules Bianchi 10 years later: "Talented and good"

Jules Bianchi died on July 17, 2015, after more than nine months in a coma caused by the tragic accident at the Japanese Grand Prix held the previous October 5, 2014. The unfortunate French driver was not only a great promise of the Ferrari Academy, but also a friend and a true mentor for Charles Leclerc. Who, at exactly ten years after his passing, wanted to remember the colleague who had also been his godfather.

“The first memories I have of Jules do not have to do with him as a driver, but as a person – were the words Leclerc dedicated to Bianchi, published on the official Formula 1 website -. We spent a lot of time together, we grew up alongside each other with our families, which are very close even now. He was always there”.

“He was eight years older than me, close in age more to my older brother– added Leclerc -I was 6-7 years old, and the age difference could be felt. Then we became very close friends, and he was the most competitive person I knew. Even when we were racing in karts you could see it, or in the shenanigans we did at home. I think I became so competitive in turn because of him”.

“I hope Jules Bianchi will be remembered as an enormously talented driver, but one who unfortunately didn&#8217t get a chance to race for a top team that would give him a chance to prove it. Then there are people whose goodness you understand simply by looking at their eyes and their smile. Jules was one of them, and that is the most important thing I remember about him” Leclerc concluded.