Leclerc Brothers Make F1 History After Driving as Teammates for Ferrari in Abu Dhabi GP

At the conclusion of the first practice session for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2024, Charles Leclerc and his younger brother Arthur were driving beside each other in Ferraris. This has written the new chapter of Formula One history.

Photo: Leclerc brothers (youtube.com/@Formula1)

It was a memorable moment for F1 when Charles and Arthur Leclerc drove identical Ferraris during the first practice in Abu Dhabi. Even though Charles was slow to enter the action, this race was scheduled to become the first time brothers had competed as teammates. The Scuderia Ferrari staff disassembled the older Monegasque’s car after apparently investigating a battery problem but he, nevertheless, finished first.

There Have Been Cases Where Brothers Have Driven in F1, but Not on Same Team

This was the first time since Formula 1 began that the brothers had officially competed as teammates in a competition weekend. Charles is one of the best drivers of today—he’s the third-biggest favorite to win the Abu Dhabi GP after Max Verstappen and Lando Norris, according to odds of Formula 1 betting sites from the bookmakers list—while his younger brother Arthur is the Scuderia Ferrari’s development driver. He replaced Carlos Sainz in the first practice session in Abu Dhabi.

Although Michael and Ralf Schumacher had both won races in Formula One, the Leclerc brothers became the first to drive together in an official session during a championship race weekend. Pedro and Ricardo Rodríguez, both Mexicans, were Ferrari drivers, although not simultaneously.

FIA regulations require that any F1 driver must make way for a rookie with fewer than two Grand Prix starts. Briton Oliver Bearman, the reserve driver, is ineligible because he has already raced this season with Ferrari and Haas. Bearman drove Charles Leclerc’s car in practice in Mexico, and then replaced the ill Kevin Magnussen in Haas for the Brazilian Grand Prix. As a result, Arthur Leclerc got the chance. Last year, he drove in Formula 2 and finished the season in 15th place.