Charles Leclerc's Side Quest
The Ferrari driver is embarking on another off-track venture with two of his closest collaborators
It’s São Paulo Grand Prix week and Max Verstappen is looking for his third straight win in Brazil. Here’s what you need to know to be ready for the race
READ: The Athletic’s Madeline Coleman’s fantastic profile of Brazilian rookie driver Gabriel Bortoleto.
“His highest finish of the season thus far is sixth, which came in Hungary. After that race in August, [Fernando] Alonso told Spanish broadcaster DAZN, “He’s the best rookie of this generation.”
GO: West Coast Pit Crew’s Brazilian GP Watch Parties and Food Drives
West Coast Pit Crew is hosting Sunday morning watch parties in Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, and Fullerton for the race, and are asking attendees to bring some non-perishables to support the many Americans losing SNAP/CAlfresh benefits.
LOOK: Leo’s parents get engaged!
Charles Leclerc used the break between the Mexico City GP and São Paulo for his most important side quest yet: getting engaged. With the help of his dog Leo, he popped the question to Alexandra Saint Mleux. Of course, photographer Antoine Truchet was there to capture it all…
Speaking of Leclerc and his side quests, here’s a sneak peak at an Issue 04 feature on how the Ferrari driver, his photographer Truchet, and brand strategist Nicolas Jayr turned their years-long collaboration into SIDEQUEST, a creative studio that aims to bridge the gap between sports and cultural storytelling through athlete collaborations, fashion projects, and original IP.
“The Big Excerpt” from…
Charles Leclerc’s Side Quest
By India Roby; Photography by Antoine Truchet and SIDEQUEST
… A self-proclaimed “athlete-as-auteur,” Leclerc has been solidifying his presence outside of the sport; he has forayed into music, fashion, and even low-calorie ice cream. The name “SIDEQUEST” is a cheeky nod to a meme about Leclerc’s many off-track projects. “My fans often comment on my ‘side quests,’ and honestly, I take that as a compliment,” Leclerc explained in a press release. “These aren’t distractions — they’re part of how I think, express myself, and create.”
To understand SIDEQUEST, you have to understand the trio behind it. Truchet has shot nearly every minute of Leclerc’s time on and off the track these last three years, and has become one of the most respected photographers in the paddock. (The amazing shots of Leclerc on the hill at Zandvoort? Those were Truchet’s. Leclerc’s swan dive into the water at Monaco? Also, Truchet. Leclerc on a yacht with his dog Leo? Probably Truchet’s shot too.) Jayr spent years at Nike and Formula 1, and has an expertise in creative strategy. And Leclerc brings the name recognition, of course, but also is a rarity in the sports world: an athlete/aesthete.
“Usually, these athletes feel that the [attention and creative workload] can be too much and step away from it for a bit, or they have somebody tell them what to do,” Truchet says. “The good thing is we know [Charles] quite well. We know what he’s gonna like and not gonna like — but even with that, I can never guarantee whether a choice of carousel or captions is gonna work. He will always have his own style and way of doing things. We’re all creative, but so is Charles.”
ty for letting me write about sidequest - cant wait to see the full story in print 🤭🤍