July 17 marks the demise of one of the greatest rising young talents F1 had ever witnessed – Jules Bianchi. The Frenchman died on this very day back in 2015, and his childhood friend, Charles Leclerc, couldn’t resist but pay his tribute to the late Bianchi.

There is no denying that Leclerc and Bianchi established an inseparable bonding as they traveled together in the field of racing since their childhood.

What’s more, Bianchi is also Leclerc’s godfather. Hence, considering the meaning Bianchi held in Leclerc’s life, the latter posted an emotional message on social media.

What did Charles Leclerc post?

The Monegasque shared one of Bianchi’s posts on his Instagram story, with a moving message to the late F1 driver. “Forever in our heart,” Leclerc wrote.

Leclerc, through most of his life, followed the late Marussia driver’s footsteps, and ultimately arrived on the doors of F1. He joined the F1 grid in 2018 through Ferrari’s young driver academy. The 23-year-old, consequently, found himself in the Sauber F1 Team and worked his way up to Ferrari by the very next season.

However, on several occasions, Leclerc has pointed that Bianchi deserved the Ferrari seat more than anybody, including himself. And of course, one will agree with Leclerc’s point, considering how the late Frenchman showcased his racing ability with an underwhelming car in hand.

The unforgettable 2014 Monaco GP

Bianchi qualified in a dismal P19 and was later pushed down to P21 after receiving a five-place grid penalty for an unscheduled gearbox change.

Hence, a top 10 finish in the race was evidently unlikely for Bianchi. However, then arrived a stunning drive from the Frenchman.

Bianchi fought his way through the field and capitalized on every possible opportunity to claim P8 in the race. However, he was then carrying a five-second time penalty. And after taking the penalty into account, Bianchi dropped down to P9.

Nevertheless, that was his and Marussia’s first points in F1. Many drivers, including Fernando Alonso, still rate Bianchi’s 2014 Monaco GP very highly; the Spaniard once hailed Bianchi’s drive on the streets of Monte Carlo a ‘miracle.’ Hence, the death of Bianchi is one of the greatest losses F1 has ever endured.

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