This year, he will have rhymed Leclerc with first. More like twice than once… First test gallop in Formula 1 on January 29 in Barcelona, just to demonstrate his new status as development driver for Scuderia Ferrari.
First ride aboard the Hypercar struck by the prancing horse on November 3 on the Sakhir circuit which hosted the traditional end-of-season Rookie Test of the WEC, the world endurance championship, the day after the final round (8 Bahrain Times).
After a learning season punctuated by a few highlights, in the European Le Mans Series (ELMS) as in Italian GT, Arthur Leclerc immediately put the victorious Ferrari 499P to good use in the last two editions of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
By setting the best time for beginners (1'50''460), Charles' little brother allowed himself to be ahead of a certain Valentino Rossi (BMW) and Victor Martins (Alpine). Contact!
Arthur, did you prepare for this baptism of fire aboard a Hypercar in the same way as your first drive in Formula 1 in Barcelona ten months ago?
Not really, due to lack of time. Between the various activities linked to my task as F1 development driver and the ELMS and Italian GT races, the schedule has been quite busy in recent weeks. Luckily, in Maranello the Hypercar department is right above the F1 simulator. Just go up one floor. Before taking off for Bahrain, I went to meet the people I was going to work with and get some bearings. And I still did two short hours in the simulator. Compared to that of an F1 car, the steering wheel of the 499P is very different. A lot of information and procedures to assimilate at once, therefore.
Is the step as high between an LMP2 prototype and a Hypercar as between F2 and F1?
Oh no! Sorry to disappoint you… Even if it pushes hard in a straight line, a Hypercar is not faster than an LMP2. I had already noticed this during the 4 Hours of Imola, when I lapped the Oreca 07 a full second faster than the poleman of the WEC round run there in the spring. But the 499P nevertheless proves to be very pleasant to use. And then it's a whole other job. Extreme concentration and precision required. To refine the settings, optimize the balance… This is the top level of Endurance. You work at Ferrari-AF Corse. A team that did not win the 2023 and 2024 24 Hours of Le Mans by chance.
Formula 1, Hypercar: what is the number 1 difference in your eyes?
Aero! In F1, ground effect generates XXL downforce. It's visually impressive…and physically. There, we deal with much more restrictive regulations. And that changes a lot of things, in particular the way you drive and adjust the car.
On the track, what did you mainly work on?
In the morning and early afternoon, we did long runs. Several series of around ten laps to work on the racing rhythm. And then we focused a little more on performance by doing two runs with less fuel and fresher tires.
Signing the best time in this Rookie Test, is it important or anecdotal?
I establish this time without putting everything end to end. With traffic to manage in the last sector, among others. Seeing your name at the top of the rankings is always nice, we're not going to lie. But the team isn't just looking at the clock. Consistency matters as much as performance. Technical feedback, too. There you go, I think I have given them some data to analyze. We did the job planned.
On the ELMS front, the Panis Racing team trio, Leclerc-Milesi-Maldonado, finished 4th after occupying 2nd place at the mid-season mark. What did you miss during money time?
Even if a lot happened in Portimao, I think we will not lose the title at this final deadline (16th due to a technical problem and a collision, editor's note). We were very competitive as the victory at Imola attests. But we missed opportunities, unfortunately. Some races did not go as hoped. It's a shame to let the championship slip away like that. Personally, I am happy to have shown my peak of speed in the pre-season tests, then by setting the best laps in the race. And I never dented the car. No missteps.
On the GT side, on the other hand, you have reached the goal. What flavor does this title won in Italy have?
Winning the Endurance Series crown at Monza was great. Finally, with Giancarlo (Fisichella) and Tommaso (Moscon)we win the first race (Vallelunga) and the last. Despite a slight dip in the middle of the season, the objective was achieved. I am happy to have brought the Ferrari 296 to the top. Without a doubt one of the best GT3s today.
Can we say that you have slipped into the shoes of an endurance driver in 2024?
With these two programs, it's true that I have gained a lot of experience in the space of a few months. Previously, during my years in F4, F3, F2, I had never driven so much. In 2024, we no longer count the kilometers, on the track and in the simulator. I negotiated a turn, yes.
The main change?
Teamwork! In single-seaters, your teammate is your first rival. In endurance there are two and you win or lose together. They are your allies. You share everything. So you have to know how to make concessions and compromises.
And now? What's the next step?
Obviously, I want to transform the essay. This Rookie Test went well. I drove fast. We accomplished productive work with the team. So let's see what the future holds. My dearest wish now is to drive a Hypercar in a race, next year or in 2026. As soon as possible.
