Alright, let’s talk about this “leclerc watch” thing. It’s not some fancy timepiece I picked up, you know? Not a literal watch with his name slapped on it. For me, the “leclerc watch” was more about, well, actually watching the guy race, especially during that one season.
I remember getting really into F1 again. Started following things closely. Got the apps, set reminders for races. And Leclerc, he was the one I kind of latched onto. Seemed like he had the speed, the raw talent. So, I started my “leclerc watch”. Every race weekend, I’d be glued to the screen.
The whole process started pretty simple. Just carving out time on Sundays, sometimes Saturdays too for qualifying. Made sure the TV was ready, maybe grabbed some snacks. Then the race starts, and you’re just… watching. Observing. Seeing how he does.
The Ups and Downs Phase
Man, it was a rollercoaster. That’s the best way to put it. Some weekends, you’d see him put the car places it had no business being. Pole positions, fighting at the front. You’d get hyped up, thinking, “This is it!”
Then came the other side of the coin. Oh boy. Strategy calls that made absolutely no sense. Like, I’m sitting there on my couch, yelling at the TV. Why pit now? Why those tires? It felt like watching someone constantly trip over their own feet, but like, at 200 miles per hour.
I specifically remember one race, can’t recall which one exactly now, mid-season maybe. He was leading comfortably. Looked totally in control. My “leclerc watch” was showing pure gold. Then the pit stop came. Slow stop? Wrong tire choice? Something went sideways, anyway. He came out way down the order. I just slumped back in my chair. It was gutting.
- Seeing him lead.
- Getting excited.
- The pit stop disaster.
- The frustration setting in.
- Finishing way lower than expected.
That pattern kind of repeated. Flashes of brilliance followed by moments that just made you scratch your head or want to throw something. It wasn’t just about him driving, it was the whole package – the team, the car reliability, the strategy calls playing out in real time right in front of you.
What I Got From It
So, yeah, my “leclerc watch” wasn’t about telling time. It was about spending time watching, hoping, getting frustrated, and occasionally celebrating. It showed me how much promise doesn’t always equal results, especially in something as complex as F1. You need everything to click, and watching Leclerc closely really hammered that point home for me. It was an experience, that’s for sure. Still watch him, still hope, but maybe with slightly more managed expectations now. Learned that the hard way, just by watching.