Getting Ready with Ferrari's Gladiators, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz
“In our world, everything is rushed,” says Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz as he gets dressed with speed for the Gladiator II premiere.
I'm with the affable 30-year-old Spaniard – a four-time Grand Prix winner – in a princely suite at the Corinthia London: he's staying here with his girlfriend, Scottish model Rebecca Donaldson, who is busy shooting content of her own, seemingly with a high-end jewellery brand.
His teammate, Charles Leclerc – Formula One's current poster boy who's been with Ferrari since 2019 – is a little way down the corridor in an equally enormous suite. The 27-year-old Monégasque driver doesn't have long to get ready, and as you'd expect, I'm not the only person here racing from one room to the other. Joining me in the breathless entourage is photographer Jonathan Daniel Pryce, AKA @garconjon, with whom I form a trauma bond as we attempt to keep up with the athletes' pace, and Rocco Iannone, the first and current creative director of Ferrari Style.
Iannone is attending the red carpet affair alongside the drivers, looking dapper in a body-sculpting tux of his own design.
Naturally, he also made Sainz and Leclerc looks for the night. They are all in black tuxedos but there are nuances to be spotted that tend to each's taste.
Sainz stands strong in a single-breasted suit crafted from silk wool.
Leclerc appears dapper in a double-breasted look formed from mohair wool.
Iannone’s own outfit is characterised by the flare of the trousers, the natural shoulder and the moderately cinched waist.
“It was a very nice process,” Rocco tells me as we make use of the refreshments in Leclerc's suite that he and his girlfriend, the kindly Alexandra Saint Mleux, won't have the time to enjoy themselves.
He continues: “We had plenty of conversations to understand their needs and how they'd like to wear a tuxedo. I felt it important to make a statement, respect the dress code and ensure they feel comfortable since they're outside their usual environment.”
That's no over-exaggeration. The event marks Leclerc's first red-carpet premiere, and just Sainz's second. (He circumvents the fact the first was the Spanish premiere of Illumination Entertainment's animated feature-length, The Secret Life of Pets 2. He attended along with his dog, Piñón.)
“I'm pretty sure when I watch the film [Gladiator II, to be clear, not...] in 10-15 years time, maybe with my kids, I will remember being here and it'll be a good moment to look back on,” he states with emotion, as if suddenly present.
They both have a lot on their mind. Like, next week's Las Vegas Grand Prix, for example. And, the bigger picture, winning the 2024 Formula One Constructors Championship.
“This is all I'm thinking of,” admits Leclerc “and I would do absolutely everything in order to make that [win] happen.”
Nevertheless, they're glad they've parked some time in their calendar to step away from the track to enter Ridley Scott's colosseum.
Sainz hasn't been to the pictures since 2022, when he saw Avatar: The Way of Water); Leclerc claims he hasn't been since Rush came out in 2013.
They're famous and perpetually short on time. Speaking of...
They must hurry since King Charles is attending the premiere, thus, Paramount
(the studio distributing the blockbuster) have asserted to the Ferrari attendees that timings must be adhered to.
“Our King Charles needs to beat THE King Charles,” says one of the Ferrari reps, in English rather than Italian, as if to suggest I should quote her. (You made it!)
But before they flashed out like Lightning (McQueen), I encouraged them to take a well-deserved pit-stop, in which I got the sparkling waters in as well as a few questions about films, fashion, Vegas, Sainz's last few weeks with Ferrari (he's moving to Williams next year), Lewis Hamilton joining Leclerc for 2025 and more.
Are you both fans of the original Gladiator?
Charles: I'm going to be completely honest, I hadn't watched the movie until a week ago. So, I decided to take the time to see the first one before seeing the second one, and I've now watched that twice. That's a good sign, isn't it? [Laughs] I really, really enjoyed it; it's a really, really cool movie. I'm really looking forward to knowing the story for the second one now.
Carlos: I was a fan, and, obviously, it's been a while so I re-watched it the other day to get up to speed and I'm now an even bigger fan.
Do you think you would’ve been chariot racers back in the day?
Charles: Huh... I don't think so. But I'd try it for fun. But back then it was a different type of driving and I don't think I would've fitted into that.
Carlos: F1 drivers, we're brave, but as brave as a chariot racer... I'm not sure. Those people were made of something else. Some people call F1 drivers and MotoGP riders the Gladiators of nowadays, as usually we put our lives on the line for racing. But then, they were properly risking things. Thank God in our sport we have a lot of safety now.
Do you think being on the track is comparable to being in a colosseum?
Charles: The cheers are the closest we get to that experience.
Carlos: Mexico's F1 stadium does remind me of that. And, yeah, the volume in Mexico was similar to being in a colosseum, I must say.
If you could travel back in time, what era would you go to?
Charles: Not that long ago. I'd say the 1980s, for the cars back then – they were incredible. That was a different way of driving. It's an era of Formula 1 I really like.
Carlos: I'm very happy in the era that I live in. Thank God society has developed into what it is today. When I watch other eras in films I thank God that I don't have to live through what other people had to live through back then. It's nice to get a picture of it but, again, I'm very happy in the era that I live in.
If there were to be a film made about your lives, who would you want to play you?
Charles: I've met Paul [Mescal] and, actually, we got along very, very well, so probably Paul.
Carlos: I've always said, Will Smith. But Paul I like for sure, I met him the other day in Austin and I'm looking forward to seeing him again tonight. And, actually, in a lot of interviews, they say I look like Pedro Pascal. I'd want either Ridley Scott or Christopher Nolan to direct it.
Tell me about your outfit for the night
Charles: Well, it's by our friends at Ferrari Style. Rocco and his team have custom-made it for the evening which is super cool. It was a pretty busy few weeks so it's been pretty difficult to find a slot to actually meet with the team and work on that but we managed to do so whilst I was shooting in the South of France and I'm really happy with it. And two rings and some bracelets are my go-to.
Carlos: I'm wearing a Ferrari Style tuxedo, with the Cavallino, as they call it.
What watch are you wearing?
Both: A Richard Mille.
What is your favourite thing to wear when you’re off-duty?
Charles: During the last few months, I've gotten more and more into baggy jeans. So, most likely, baggy jeans and a hoodie.
Carlos: I have three types of outfits when I'm off duty. One is normal jeans with an oversized white T-shirt and some sneakers – very, very simple. And if it's cold, an oversized hoodie. The other is a smart-casual outfit, which is like a blazer, some chinos and some shoes. The third is something like this one – a smart suit. So, something very street, simple and comfortable, something smart-casual or something like this.
Are you looking forward to Vegas?
Charles: I'm really looking forward to Vegas – it's always such a special experience. I love the energy. The whole weekend is crazy as it's a city where a lot is going on. Last year, we were very close to winning it, so I'm hoping this year we can make it.
Carlos: Yeah. I think Vegas was a bit of a success so I'm looking forward to this year. I remember with Miami, the first year was good but the second year was better as the city learned how to adapt and better welcome Formula One.
Charles, how do you feel about partnering up with Lewis next season?
Charles: It's very exciting. Obviously, it's a huge motivation for me – he's the most successful driver in F1 history so it's a big honour for me. It's an opportunity to learn from one of the best ever, and an opportunity to show what I am capable of doing.
Carlos, how are you making these final moments with Ferrari count?
Carlos: I'm just trying to enjoy the moment. Trying to make the most of it; trying to enjoy the time with the people that I've been here with for so many years; trying to be on the podium as much as possible. I want to give myself and my whole team a good goodbye for the time being.
Gladiator II releases in cinemas nationwide this Friday.
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