Charles Leclerc shows how good F1 drivers really are as he leaves his friends in the dust at a go-kart track

Ferrari prodigy Charles Leclerc has showcased just how good F1 drivers are, as he swapped the racecar for a go-kart and left his friends in the dust.

In this day and age, Formula 1 fans are claiming that the skill gap is lower than ever, with the difference in cars being the main factor as to who wins races.

Charles Leclerc isn’t settling for that stigma, though, and has been using his downtime to go back to his karting roots.

And, with his hands on the wheel of the tiny 50cc engines, the racing magician has showcased how good F1 drivers really are.

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Charles Leclerc spotted

Charles Leclerc spends an ungodly amount of time behind the wheel; If it’s not winning Grands Prix, it’s cruising through Monaco in his $2.7 million vintage Ferrari.

But the racing celebrity is also accustomed to some slower vehicles, pushing them to the max and showing off expertise.

Having once been a go-karting icon in his youth, Leclerc has now run it back in his time off from F1.

A video has surfaced of Leclerc racing a go-kart with friends.

Having started at the back of the pack, the video shows him, dressed in white, flying around the circuit, keeping it tight into the corners and shooting off down the straights, quickly becoming the race leader.

When Charles Leclerc had to stop to let his friends catch up when he went karting during F1's summer break 😅⚡️

(via gianluca.laconi/YT) pic.twitter.com/Mptp9hNqL6

— Autosport (@autosport) August 12, 2025

The F1 star can be seen having to slow down for his friends after making some impressive overtakes on the first lap, proving that his car position and knowledge of optimal turning techniques set him above any other racer.

F1 racers love go-karting

While Charles Leclerc is one of the biggest advocates for karting, owning his own team that competes in championships, there are many other F1 drivers who also love jumping back in the nippy machines.

Namely, Max Verstappen, who grew up alongside Leclerc and was a close rival during their karting years.

McLaren CEO Zak Brown also started his journey to being an F1-winning manager by buying a go-kart with game show winnings way back in the ’80s.

Then there’s Yuki Tsunoda, who also loves an unorthodox karting experience, ditching F1 media responsibilities to throw bananas and shells at a certain moustachioed Italian driver in a virtual race.

Charles Leclerc will return to the cockpit of his Ferrari at the end of August as the F1 drivers head to the Dutch Grand Prix.

There, the Rosso red pack will be hopeful of righting their recent wrongs to unseat McLaren and upset home racer Max Verstappen.

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