Wonderland

A NEW SEAT FOR CHARLES LECLERC

Chivas Regal welcomes Charles Leclerc as Global Brand Ambassador

Il Predestinato. 16. Red. Whether you know him by name (baptised upon to him by the creed of Ferrari), his racing number, or the burgeoning hues of Rosso Corsa red, there’s more to Charles Leclerc, the famed Formula One driver, than a set of rouge fireproof overalls and an allegiance to the Italian prancing horse. Trackside is a thrill-seeker who feeds off the adrenaline, but it’s the precious moments off-track in a life fixated on the fast lane where 27-year-old Leclerc is truly able to fathom the success of it all. A space to actualise the reality of manifesting a childhood dream in red. It’s this downtime and distance where Leclerc, away from the tarmac, has found a new turf to call home: the piano.

It’s a Thursday morning, and Leclerc is in high spirits as we meet for what feels like little more than a decent pit stop. Time, after all, is the most precious trophy for this athlete. And today, there’s a particular reason for his upbeat mood. It marks the beginning of his exciting new partnership with luxury Scotch whisky brand Chivas Regal, centred around the theme of “forging your own path in redefining success.” This collaboration reveals a side of Leclerc we don’t often see—yet occasionally hear about—the Leclerc who is more than just an athlete. The same Leclerc who surprised us with his debut Spotify tracks, drawing over 15 million listeners, featuring lilting, percussive melodies that showcase his lesser known creative flair.

“It’s very important to have music around me,” shares the athlete turned self-taught composer. “It just helps you to feel some kind of way.” That’s the message at play here for Leclerc’s new sipping alliance with Chivas Regal, a sure celebration of craftsmanship, but more than that, a chance to toast to the victories beyond the track.

Whether it’s the notes on a piano or the notes of an iconic whisky, Leclerc embraces his new seat as Global Brand Ambassador in this groundbreaking partnership. His message is clear: savour the moments of success that come from the unexpected. Time, precision, and dedication are worth celebrating, whether you’re seated at a piano or behind the wheel of a cockpit. “But what truly drives me is the journey,” he reflects.

Amid the news of the partnership, Wonderland caught up with Formula 1’s leading man to talk about what it means to discover your rhythm – and then cheers to finding it.

Charles, we know you as a man of the track, but over the past few years, we’ve come to know you as a man of different kinds of tracks – the musical kind. What pushed you to share your composing as something personal to one that can be shared with the world?

I basically started [putting together] music during the pandemic, when I was stuck at home. Basically, I didn’t have enough things to do. I trained a lot, I was driving the simulator, but you know when it starts to get a bit repetitive? When I was younger, there was always a piano at home because my younger brother used to play, but I didn’t spend so much time on the piano back then. So during COVID, I wanted to try and get better at it. I built one and really, really enjoyed it. I put some stories in Instagram stories and people reacted to it in a positive way. But people were complaining because they had to watch the [Instagram] story over and over again to play the song, so I decided I’ll put one song out there and see how it goes. I did that, and the reaction was very positive and super nice to see. However, as I’ve always made clear from the start, my level is not that good. I’m a very creative person, so I’ve got a lot of things in mind, but it’s very difficult for me to transcribe that exactly right on the piano. [That said] I really enjoy the process of creating these songs and just being able to do everything myself from the start of the song to recording it to seeing people enjoy it. It makes me happy.

When you’re composing, what headspace do you find yourself in? Is it something you can do in one sitting? Are you able to switch off to be fully at one with the craft?

I think this is why I like music so much. I mean, my life is all about travelling from one place to the other and everything is quite hectic and crazy. But then when I get home, it’s a moment for me to slow down to think about myself – to not think about anything else and music is the best way for me to be in that mental state. Disconnecting is important sometimes, and music gives me that.

Can you remember your first ever live concert?

I haven’t been to so many. I remember being at a dinner with my family one day and there was this group going around the restaurant. It wasn’t an actual concert, but this group just made the whole evening get so much better, because of their performance. That’s probably the first time I realised being a kid, how much of a difference music can bring to people. It can change the energy in a room.

They say instruments tell stories. What story are you portraying through your music?

All of my songs are named after a race and so every song has its own story. The songs are named after the races because that was the music I composed during or around that time, and it’s the way I felt during that race. So every song has its own particular story. The only ones that had a different name were the ones that I did with Sofiane Pamart. I enjoyed the process of actually going into a professional studio with a professional musician so much. It was probably the first time where my creativity had no limits because, most of the time, I am limited with what I can do personally on the piano. But with Sofiane, I had him by my side and he can basically play everything. This was super interesting because I could let my creativity [take over] and him on the technicality. Let’s say that most of [my songs] are melancholic, just because I like melancholy. [Laughs] It’s not that I feel sad, just that it makes me feel calm, and that’s the thing that I search for whenever I play the piano.

Do you have a song on repeat at the moment?

I do but it’s such a random song. Honestly, it’s it’s I don’t know if you do you know The White Lotus series? I haven’t seen the new season yet, but there’s this song in the theme tune. “Renaissance,” it’s stuck in my head and I don’t know why. But it’s a good one.

Honing a craft is something you’ve been doing throughout your life so far. With Chivas Regal, we’re looking at a craft that’s been going since 1909, with a legacy of over 115 years. What does legacy mean to you? Is it something you’re conscious of?

Definitely. I’ve been to Scotland to visit the Chivas team to see how much craftsmanship, how much time, and how much precision there is in creating the perfect blend. It was so incredibly impressive, how much effort is put into creating the smallest amount of details and making the dream work. Legacy is super important, we’re all working together to try and leave a mark in [our] different environment. I try to do that in my environment, of course, and Chival has already mastered that in theirs. But even that doesn’t mean they rest on what they’ve already achieved – there’s also a big focus on innovation, too.

Life is all about changing lanes and trying new opportunities. What have you learned about the craft in partnering with Chivas Regal?

It’s definitely a different kind of craftsmanship, but I think there are lots of similarities in the way we work. From always trying to innovate, but always remembering where you come from. This is a big part of my life, to remember where I come from, but also to get better at what I do. I knew of Chivas before [the partnership], but not at the point I do now, and meeting these people, it’s an incredible story. It’s a celebration of defining moments.

Chivas Regal’s ethos is all about celebrating these defining moments. What does winning look like to you outside of the track?

As with music, spending good moments with the right people whenever you achieve something is important, because these are moments that you remember once you finish your career. Not only when I’m finished, but whenever I do something good, [it’s important] to look back at it and be proud of it. These are moments to share success together, and Chivas Regal is the perfect brand to do that with.

To mark the partnership, Charles Leclerc and Chivas Regal will host an exclusive one-night-only pop-up piano bar on 11th March in Melbourne. Aptly titled Leclerc’s, guests will be invited to divulge in master whisky cocktails in a unique evening centred around the power of music, and Leclerc’s self-taught passion for the piano. Want to try Charles Leclerc’s signature serve? Santé, Salute, Cheers, Charles.

Leclerc Spritz

Charles Leclerc’s signature serve. A twist on an Italian classic fit for the French Riviera