With an average in-person attendance of 300,000 and tens of millions more tuning into the broadcasts, Formula 1 races have become some of the most-watched sporting events in the world.
This May 3-5, the popular motorsport rolls into Miami, Florida, for the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix. The highly anticipated race, which saw a weekend attendance of 270,000 in 2023, will take place at the Miami International Autodrome which features a 3.36-mile circuit with 19 corners and three straights.
The event comprises the Santander-partnered Scuderia Ferrari HP team and its drivers Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, competing against 18 other drivers from nine other teams.
Ahead of the big race, we caught up with Monaco-born driver, Charles Leclerc, to get his take on the United States, who inspires him and what he might be doing if he wasn’t a professional driver.
Santander: You have several races this year in the United States, including the Miami Grand Prix. What do you like most about the U.S.?
Charles Leclerc: I love the vibe of being in the United States. I think it’s a place where there is always something happening. Whether you come for business, there are plenty of opportunities. If you come for holidays, there are plenty of things to do. And if you come for sport, there are amazing sports. There’s always something to do, which makes it always amazing to spend time in the U.S.
Santander: Who inspires you?
Leclerc: My dad inspired me a lot when I started racing. But my mom as well, for always working extremely hard. So, I would say my parents.
Santander: If you weren’t a race car driver, what would you be doing?
Leclerc: I would be either an architect or an engineer. But probably most likely an architect. I have a very creative side of me, and architecture is always something that fascinated me, so I’d probably be an architect.
Formula 1 success
So far in 2024, Leclerc has taken the podium for second place in the Australian Grand Prix (alongside Sainz, who won the event) and third place in the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
We had the privilege of meeting up with Charles Leclerc in person last year at the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, home of one of Formula 1’s premier tracks, the Circuit of the Americas.
Before the race, Charles spent time with automotive engineering students, F1 super fans and even received a pair of custom-made cowboy boots featuring the Santander logo.
We’re looking forward to following the performances of Charles and Carlos this year and seeing them again in the Lone Star State at the United States Grand Prix happening October 18-20.
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