Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc Talks Slowing Down and Staying Fit

Charles Leclerc is the face of Scuderia Ferrari — perhaps the most storied team in Formula 1 — and Peroni Nastro Azzurro 0.0%’s newest Brand Ambassador. Since entering the public spotlight, Leclerc has become a beloved fan favourite. The 26-year-old’s personality first permeated the mainstream in 2020, when racing — along with the rest of the world — was put on pause. He began streaming virtual races with fellow drivers and immediately captured the hearts of Formula 1 fans around the world. Leclerc delivered genuine insight into the unfettered joy and levity that makes him such a singular personality in the sport.

“It’s really about disconnecting from the outside world and reconnecting with people close to me […] We get together, get in front of the sun, maybe an aperitivo (pre-meal drink). This is what I enjoy, just staying near my loved ones and creating memories for the future.

Charles Leclerc on wellness practices.

Traditionally, Formula 1 drivers have lacked a certain balance off the grid; the pressure often leaves their personalities dreadfully robotic or dangerously hedonistic. But Leclerc brought balance to the high-octane environment.

So much so that it begs the question: how can someone who bears so much pressure stay so balanced? How does one maintain a sound mind amongst the noise of professional racing? And how do they avoid the pitfalls of global stardom?

One word: simplicity.

Formula 1 is so demanding not only on the mind but also on the body. You’ve spoken before about your experiments with different nutrition techniques to stay sharp, even going as far as to say you’d be open to a vegan diet a few years ago. Today, what does your nutrition look like?

To be honest, I don’t think I’ll ever try anything extreme in any direction, whether it’s a fully vegetarian diet or entirely keto or anything like that. I’ve been convinced by my dietitian to essentially keep a well-balanced diet and try to have as much variation within that balance as I can. For me, that’s the secret. I keep it clean and consistent, although I have to leave room for variation or else it starts to feel like a diet. But everything is in the hands of my dietitian.

Why did your latest partnership with Peroni 0.0% feel like a fit for your lifestyle, specifically?

Well, first of all, I felt like the campaign specifically really represented my way of living. It’s always a balance between the very fast pace of racing and my off time, which is a lot more easygoing. It’s so important for me to take the time to see my loved ones — my family, my friends — and actually have a lot of fun in my free time. My professional life moves so fast, it’s so high-octane, that I find myself intentionally moving slowly in other facets to balance it out. So, the “0.0 to 100” idea of the campaign made so much sense.

You mentioned living so much of your life in such a high-octane environment. When in season, do you have any wellness or meditative practices to help align you or help you stay focused when you’re off the track?

For me, cultivating moments to unwind is so incredibly important, especially now that, in Formula 1, we have 24 races. The season is always getting longer and more tiring towards the end. So, you’ve got to have those moments where you disconnect and be a bit more distant from the competitive world.

In terms of specific practices, I keep it all very simple. It’s really about disconnecting from the outside world and reconnecting with people close to me. Honestly, it starts with the simplest moments with my family and friends at home. We get together, get in front of the sun, maybe — how do I say this? I’ve got it in Italian — an aperitivo (pre-meal drink). This is what I enjoy, just staying near my loved ones and creating memories for the future. It’s something that is super important to me.

What about physical wellness techniques?

If we speak more in terms of physical health, I do quite a lot of cryotherapy.  It’s something that helps me to recover really well. I love cold baths. I like to use the cold to recover, which is a big boost for not only the body but also for the brain.

You mentioned in an interview earlier this year that you try to get between 10 to 11 hours of sleep per night. Do you have a nightly routine that helps prepare you for rest?

I’m quite lucky to be a naturally good sleeper. However, there are moments where I can feel a bit more tense and it’s a bit more difficult to recenter myself just before going to sleep and to get in a deep cycle. And in those cases, I use a lot of breathing techniques. It helps me stay present with myself. I focus on stomach breathing, especially diaphragm breathing, which is a great way to recenter, calm yourself, and fall asleep much quicker.

You’re known for maintaining this childlike sense of joy no matter how stressful the environment is. Where does that come from?

Naturally, as everyone experiences, there have been times in my life when I’ve gone through tough periods. And in those times, I just remind myself how lucky I am to be doing what I have always dreamt of doing.  And how lucky I am, in general, to have my mom and my brothers in a healthy situation and be there for me.

No matter who you are, those difficult times are a certainty. For me, I’ve just got to look around myself and be near those I’m closest to.  As I said, just share the simplest moments with your loved ones. This is enough to bring me joy. Also, I love my sport so much. I love what I do. Competition is what drives me forward and what excites me as well. So, despite those moments, I have no reason to be negative.

For our readers also operating in a fast-paced professional environment, do you have any advice for them to find gratitude on a daily basis? 

I think in the world today, where we have access to all kinds of information and we’re flooded with social media, it’s very easy to not enjoy the simplest moments. I always come back to that, but for me, this is the key to happiness. There are so many simple moments that you can share with people.  And often, when you’re in these moments, you don’t actually understand how special they are.

You don’t need a lot to be happy. Enjoy the simple moments in your own life. That would be my advice.

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