Charles Leclerc’s simracing setup is enough to make any car simulation enthusiast dream. And make no mistake about it, being runner-up in the Formula 1 World Championship doesn’t mean snubbing virtual tracks! Today, I’d like to take you on a little tour of the car’s history.
Charles Leclerc in brief
Well, I guess I don’t need to introduce you to Charles Leclerc. First and foremost, he’s a Formula 1 driver currently driving for Scuderia Ferrari. Born on October 16, 1997, he lives in Monaco, literally ON one of the most beautiful circuits in the world. He took his first steps in karting in 2005. In 2009, he won the Cadet Cup, then in 2010 the Monaco Kart Cup KF3.
After a stint in GP3 , which saw him win the 2016 edition, he went on to win the 2017 Formula 2 championship.
Charles Leclerc then joined the legendary Formula 1 family with the Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 Team. Hired by Scuderia Ferrari in 2019, he scored his first Grand Prix victory on the Spa-Francorchamps circuit. A week later, he repeated the feat at the Monza Grand Prix.
During the 2019 season, Charles Leclerc accumulates 7 pole position starts, and in 2020 he finishes 8th in the drivers’ standings. The Ferrari team is so confident in his abilities that it renews his contract for a further 4 years.
After very mixed results in the 2020 and 2021 seasons, Charles Leclerc gets off to a flying start in the 2022 season. And after a fierce battle (often against his own team) he finished second in the championship.
Charles Leclerc and Simracing: what does he think?
In concrete terms, Charles had a real steering wheel in his hands even before he discovered the world of simracing. From the age of 3 and a half, he was already taking his first steps on real tracks. When he talks about the first “simulation” that really made an impression on him, it’s Codemaster’s Toca Race Driver on PS1 that comes to mind.
But it was really in 2020 with the confinement that Leclerc got back into simracing very actively. He even shares his driving sessions on his Twitch channel, much to the delight of his fans.
During the long confinement we experienced in 2020, simracing was a way for him to maintain his reflexes and remember his love of the track. It’s interesting to note that it’s not the driving aspect of simracing that holds his attention the most , but the psychological side!
I think on a mental level, it’s very similar to the real thing. So when I go out for a qualifying session in the virtual world, I have the same desire as in real life to take pole position. And it’s just as difficult mentally not to make a mistake and to put absolutely all the best corners in a lap.
It’s the same with racing, not taking risks but taking enough to win the race. That, too, is the same mental management in the virtual world as in reality. And that’s going to help a lot.
Charles Leclerc on simracing in March 2021
The right cockpit for the right driver
Let’s take a look at Charles Leclerc’s simracing setup, because things are about to get interesting. I’m warning you right now that we’re talking top-of-the-range here. But you suspected that, didn’t you?
Charles Leclerc has two distinct setups. The first cockpit is for Formula 1 racing, and is a Playseat F1 Red painted in a beautiful Ferrari red. The second is a Playseat Sensation Pro for GT racing, equipped in Rally mode.
What equipment is used in Charles Leclerc’s cockpits?
Both cockpits use a 49-inch Samsung screen. But during a 24 Hours of Le Mans event on rFactor 2, he used a triple-screen configuration plus a fourth screen to monitor race information.
Both his F1 and GT Cockpits feature Fanatec Podium steering wheel bases. The German brand’s must-have with Direct Drive engine.
The steering wheel is a Fanatec Clubsport Wheel F1 2020, sometimes replaced by another model (which you can see in the video below). As for the pedals, he opted for the famous Fanatec Clubsport Pedals V3 equipped with a Load Cell brake pedal for enhanced braking precision.
The Cockpit Rally features a Fanatec Clubsport Handbrake V1.5, and a Fanatec Clubsport SQ V1.5 gearbox.
As for sound, Charles Leclerc has chosen the Logitech G Pro X as his main headset. A model found on many streamers.
Simulations where you can meet him
In concrete terms, Charles Leclerc hasn’t been very active on Twitch since the end of confinement. You may well come across him on Formula One, Assetto Corsa Competizione, iRacing or rFactor 2. He has also taken part in a number of competitions, such as the Ferrari competition on Assetto Corsa.
Since 2021, Charles Leclerc seems much less active in simracing. The real F1 seasons have finally resumed. Charles certainly no longer has the time to roam the virtual tracks. We can only encourage him to continue making us dream on real tracks for the 2023 season!
Let’s recap!
Finally, we take a look at Charles Leclerc’s simracing equipment 😉
Fanatec Podium wheelbase
Fanatec Clubsport Pedals V3
Fanatec Clubsport SQ V1.5 Shifter
Fanatec Clubsport Handbrake V1.5
Cockpit Playseat Formula Intelligence
Cockpit Playseat Sensation Pro
And to make sure you don’t miss out on any of his latest developments, take a look at his official website!
