Formula 1 drivers grow up watching the likes of Niki Lauda, Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher, dreaming of being able to drive one of their legendary cars.
Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc was given the honour of driver Lauda’s famous 1974 Ferrari at last year’s Monaco Grand Prix, something which he would have dreamed of since he was a child.
This show run ended in disaster for the Monegasque driver however, as he spun the iconic car towards the end of his lap, putting Lauda’s car into the wall and damaging its rear.
Despite this mishap, Ferrari have recently given Leclerc another chance in some of their legendary machinery, putting the 25-year-old behind the wheel of Michael Schumacher’s F2003.
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This car won Ferrari the 2003 constructors’ championship, while Schumacher won the drivers’ championship, completing an iconic double for the Scuderia.
Formula 1 fans have now been treated to some stunning footage of Leclerc’s lap in the F2003, as he completed a run around the Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi.
The F2003 gliding around the new Yas Marina circuit layout really is a beautiful sight, with viewers of the footage also being treated to the iconic sound of the V10 engine.
“What a day,” Leclerc Tweeted to caption the footage, clearly grateful for the opportunity to drive such an important part of Formula 1 history.
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Ferrari are set to reveal their 2023 car on February 14th and Leclerc will be hoping that he can recreate a slither of Schumacher’s Ferrari legacy by winning his first ever drivers’ championship.
The 25-year-old looked to be the favourite for the title early on last season, but reliability issues and strategic blunders by Ferrari cost him a shot at beating Max Verstappen and Red Bull to the championship.
Reports have stunning claimed that this year’s Ferrari will be at least one second faster than the F1-75, which if true, would make it easily the fastest car on the grid and make the Scuderia early favourites for the title.