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WATCH: Go onboard with Leclerc as he drives a classic Schumacher Ferrari in Abu Dhabi
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Charles Leclerc hailed an “incredible day” after getting the opportunity to try out a Ferrari F1 car previously driven by Michael Schumacher.
Leclerc made the trip to Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina Circuit to sample the F2003-GA used by Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello for most of the 2003 season, after they contested the opening four rounds with the F2002B.
From the 12 Grands Prix it entered, the F2003-GA (a name that paid tribute to the late Fiat boss Gianni Agnelli) claimed five pole positions, seven wins and 13 podiums, with Schumacher narrowly beating McLaren rival Kimi Raikkonen to the sixth of his seven drivers’ titles and Ferrari securing the constructors’ crown.
On Monday evening, current Ferrari driver Leclerc took to Twitter to post a video of himself completing a lap of the Yas Marina track in the iconic car, which was the creation of then-Technical Director Ross Brawn and Chief Designer Rory Byrne.
“Incredible day driving this 2003 beast in Abu Dhabi,” wrote Leclerc in a separate post on Instagram, which also included a clip captured from the pit wall of him charging down the main straight.
Leclerc’s post – and the roaring V10 engine that powered the F2003-GA – attracted plenty of comments from fans and fellow drivers, including friend and newly-minted Alpine racer Pierre Gasly.
TEAM GUIDE: Get up to speed on Ferrari and their rich F1 history as they aim for title glory in 2023
Former Ferrari team boss and ex-FIA President Jean Todt also paid a visit to the venue to be reunited with the car, which was part of an incredible run of title-winning success for Schumacher and the Scuderia in the early to mid-2000s.
Leclerc will return to Europe for the launch of Ferrari’s 2023 F1 car on February 14, before heading back out to the Middle East, and the Bahrain International Circuit, for pre-season testing from February 23-25.
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