Despite his recent foray into the gelato industry, Charles Leclerc assures fans his heart and focus remain dedicated to the high-speed world of Formula 1. The Monaco-born Ferrari ace is branching out into the dessert scene, a move that has sparked discussions but, according to him, not at the expense of his racing career.
The whispers around Leclerc’s intentions to open an ice cream shop in Monaco have quickly solidified into a tangible business venture. Teaming up with the esteemed Italian gelato brand Grom and his manager Nicolas Todt, Leclerc has introduced his own line of low-calorie ice cream, aptly named ‘LEC.’ Leclerc himself shared, “I initially had the idea of opening a shop in Monte Carlo, but then I met Federico Grom thanks to some mutual acquaintances and we thought about doing things much bigger than that.”
This entrepreneurial spirit mirrors that of Lewis Hamilton, the 2025 Ferrari driver and seven-time world champion, who recently ventured into the beverage industry with his non-alcoholic blue agave spirit, Almave. Leclerc notes the parallel paths, stating, “We were talking about it recently. He has this new Almave project of his, which is very nice because he has developed a new drink while I have ice cream. So for sure, when he arrives at Ferrari, we will celebrate with my ice cream and his drink.”
Leclerc is already brainstorming new flavors for 2025, with ambitions to penetrate the French market by year-end. “I’m already working on new flavours for 2025, but in the meantime we have the aim of also arriving in French supermarkets by the end of this year,” he revealed. Federico Grom hinted at potential expansion, “We haven’t thought yet about real ice-cream shops like the one Charles wanted to open, but in the future who knows.”
Amid this business endeavor, Leclerc confronts the challenge of matching his Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz’s performance. Nonetheless, he remains unfazed by the prospect of coming in second, emphasizing that his primary focus is Formula 1. “I never would have dived into this project alone because I don’t have much time available. 99 percent of my life is Formula 1 and my priority is to be the best Formula 1 driver. I dedicate everything I have to F1,” Leclerc affirmed.
When queried about Fernando Alonso’s decision to extend his stay in Formula 1 into his 40s, Leclerc was candid about his own career trajectory. “I won’t still be in F1 at 42,” he declared. “I’d like to try something else by then, like Le Mans.”
GMM
