Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc has opened up about the loss of his close friend and former F1 driver Jules Bianchi. Bianchi, who was driving for the Marussia F1 team, died in 2015, as a result of a devastating crash during the Japanese Grand Prix.

Leclerc, whose elder brother Lorenzo was best friends with Bianchi, revealed his relationship with Bianchi. Speaking in an interview with C à vous, he said, “I think it’s clear to the eyes of everyone who knows this sport: Jules had an exceptional talent. It’s also thanks to him I’m here today we grew up together. He was a few years older, my older brother’s best friend. Our fathers were best friends too.”

“So our families have always been close and still are. And yeah I learned a lot from him, because he helped me a lot, especially in my first years in karting. He had all the talent to have a great career in F1.”

The Frenchman suffered a diffuse axonal injury and required emergency surgery after the accident on 5 October 2014. He remained in a coma until his death on 17 July 2015. His unfortunate death was the first in the sport since Ayrton Senna’ at the 1994 San Marino GP.

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Will Charles Leclerc Bounce Back in 2022?

Leclerc had a season to forget as he finished 7th, also behind his new teammate Carlos Sainz Jr. However, the Monegasque will look to replicate his performances from 2019, as he won his first two races in Formula 1 with Ferrari. In 2021, the 24-year old secured a solitary podium position at the British Grand Prix.

This year, Ferrari have been impressive in pre-season testing in Barcelona. The team have completed most laps over the three days, where Leclerc topped the charts on Day 2. The Scuderia have done a sensational job with the new F1-75, a certain challenger to Red Bull and Mercedes this year.

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The 2022 season will be important for Leclerc as he looks to return to winning ways. Ferrari will be boosted with the new regulations going into the new season. Will we see a Ferrari comeback in 2022 with Leclerc leading from the front?

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