Fast pacing | Charles Leclerc

Chapter 1: Get to know the sport

I parked my Abarth 595 in front of our house in Florence. I sighed softly and turned off the engine. I didn't get out of the car right away, as I wanted to steal a few more seconds of peace before seeing my family. Don't get me wrong - I adore my parents, my two brothers and my sister, but madness was always in the air with them. We were, after all, a big and classic Italian family.

I was returning from Milan, where my graduation took place two weeks ago. I graduated in Architecture at the Politecnico di Milano. I decided that before committing to my life there, starting my first serious job in this field, it would be nice to spend the summer with my family. I missed them a lot during those 4 years when I hardly came home to Florence because of my tough exams. Yes, that's right, in October I start my job at one of the biggest and most influential companies in Milan. This is the moment to mention that the credit goes to some extent to my father, or rather to the family name I carry.

Our family is very well known in the community for buying and selling luxury properties, as well as building them, in Italy and France. Many years ago, my great-great-grandfather started the family business that is still known today, by founding his own small wood furniture making studio. That is why it is no surprise that I graduated in Architecture. But why didn't I immediately start working in the family company? The truth is that I love them very much and I wouldn't want to mix personal relationships with professional ones. My dad couldn't believe it at first, but eventually he came around and told me that when I felt ready, I could always come back here.

My sister Francesca is four years older than me and is now married to Jules. Last year they even had a child - Gabriella. The two met at the University of Monaco as they were studying the same subject there - Medicine. She now works as a Stomatologist and Jules is a Neurosurgeon. They both live in Florence with the whole family - after all, the house is huge.

My two brothers Manuel and Franco are twins and are four years younger than me. In the autumn they are going to follow in my footsteps, namely to start their Architectural studies in Milan. My parents are very proud of them, but at the same time they are a little sad that their little boys are grown up and will go their own way. What comforts them, however, is that one day they will return to live in Florence, in the family house.

Only I, at the tender age of 15, declared that one day, when I left for Milan, that would be the end and I would never live in Florence again. Again, I say that I love them all, but my views on life were quite different from theirs. From the outside it looked as if I was adopted - I was different from everyone in the family. They were very sociable, loud and dynamic, whereas I was quite modest, didn't like long and engaging conversations, and got nervous when in large crowds of people. I liked to spend my free time with a nice book in my hand and preferred my own company most of the time.

Lest you think I'm the biggest loner, I'll tell you that I also have a best friend - her name is Marta and she and I have known each other since elementary school. She was the only one who didn't make fun of me when I stuttered and that made me very attached to her. She has been there for me through all the difficult times - from being made fun of by my classmates to one of the worst losses in my life - when my grandfather passed away 3 years ago. He was my closest person, with whom I shared my dreams and emotions, even my deepest secrets. He never judged me for being so distant from the world and supported all my thoughts. I missed him every day and whenever I needed support, I just looked up to the sky and knew he was somewhere out there smiling at me, calling me "Piccina" which means "treasure".

I don't think about sharing anything about my love relationships. Not because I've got something to hide, but rather because I have nothing to say. My greatest accomplishment is kissing a boy from the university swimming team.