Charles Leclerc says business ventures are broadening his mindset, but F1 title remains priority

Charles Leclerc says his growing interest in business is helping him become a more open-minded person and driver, while stressing that his pursuit of a Formula 1 world championship remains the defining priority of his career.

Leclerc keeps racing at the centre

Speaking in an interview with Eight Sleep, a sleep technology brand in which he has invested, Leclerc made clear that his professional hierarchy remains unchanged.

He added: “Racing is, and will remain, the main priority until the end of my career.”

That message is significant in the context of the relentless scrutiny surrounding Ferrari drivers. Leclerc’s mindset has already been a subject of discussion, as explored in our recent piece on Ferrari’s concern over Charles Leclerc’s mindset after a costly slump. Against that backdrop, his comments underline a driver intent on presenting his outside interests not as a distraction, but as part of a wider personal development.

Creativity, people and performance

Leclerc explained that his motivation comes from creativity, leadership and the process of turning an idea into something tangible.

“Mostly because I love creativity and creating something from my vision is something that I particularly enjoy, but also because I love working with people,” he said.

For Leclerc, the appeal lies in building a team around a shared mission — a dynamic he sees as directly comparable to Formula 1. The Ferrari driver described the satisfaction of seeing people push in the same direction with passion and commitment, noting that this mirrors the structure of his racing life.

Karting roots shaped his approach

Leclerc also traced that understanding of people back to childhood. Having started karting at three and a half years old, he grew up around adults, mechanics and the constant need for trust between driver and team.

He said that experience taught him how to communicate, understand people and choose the right words at the right moment to keep everyone aligned. As his career progressed, that expanded into lessons about structure, mentality and motivation.

Now, Leclerc believes exposure to business environments has widened that perspective further.

“To work in a business, in a different environment, to get to know different people who have different passions. And I think that opens up your mind. So yeah, it clearly made me a more open-minded person and that always helps.”

Still, the ultimate target remains unchanged. As Leclerc put it: “My only ambition now is to obviously be a world champion. This is all I’ve ever dreamed about, and this is all I’ve ever worked for.”