Motorsport-Magazin.com – Charles Leclerc made it to the US comeback of Formula 1 in Austin – in a roundabout way. Ferrari’s star pilot got stuck at Nice airport with document problems, and then had to reschedule and first fly to New York. But luck turns into luck for him.
“For some reason a guy at Nice airport didn’t know what a NIE was,” Leclerc said at the press conference on Thursday. NIEs are National Interest Exceptions, which are special permits which, under the current pandemic conditions, allow European F1 personnel to enter the USA.
Leclerc in the stress of bureaucracy: Chance visit to New York
Leclerc therefore stopped the turbulence surrounding the documents for the first time in Nice. The airport staff only realized the mistake they had made late: “They only realized a minute before departure that the NEVER was okay, but then I didn’t have my Passenger Locator Form.”
Consequence: Leclerc missed the first flight. “But no big deal. With the same papers I could take one to New York and see the city for the first time.” Looking back, there was even a reason for the avowed Los Angeles fan Leclerc to be happy to finally visit New York: “That was unbelievable, what a city!”
Then the trip went on with the originally planned trip: “I’m to Milwaukee, for the first NBA game of the season, with the ceremony it was madness. Everything was just an unbelievable experience.”
Leclerc ready for Austin
Leclerc now feels well prepared for the race in Austin: “I really enjoy being here, I like the whole atmosphere in this country. And I also love the track, which is really challenging. With some bumps.”
The engine upgrades for him and Ferrari colleague Carlos Sainz finally brought the hoped-for results, but now the performance upgrades are over: “Now it’s up to us to do a perfect job right through to the end and get ahead of McLaren again.” Leclerc is aiming for another top five result. Everything is still open in the close duel with McLaren (Ferrari is 7.5 points behind).
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