Homesick | Charles Leclerc

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NOVEMBER 2024

The sun dipped low over the Abu Dhabi skyline, casting a warm glow on the bustling city as the Formula 1 paddock prepared for the grand finale of the 2024 season.

Charles Leclerc and Alexandra Heroux, engaged for three eventful years, stepped into the world-famous Yas Marina Circuit amidst a swirl of anticipation and media frenzy.

The air was charged with excitement as the media heralded the final race as a culmination of the best competition in recent history.

2021 was won by Max and Redbull, who also won 2022.

Suddenly, in 2023, Alexandra shot to the top of the points, and won the WDC with an incredible lead of 177 points over everyone else.

The 2024 season had so far seen a duel between Alexandra, and Charles, and had kept the racing world on the edge of their seats throughout the past year.

Adding to the spectacle was the knowledge that these fierce competitors were on the brink of becoming more than just rivals - they were soon to be married.

As the couple navigated through the paddock, the flashes of cameras and the clamor of journalists created a whirlwind of activity.

The media dubbed it the "Battle of the Leclerc's," a fitting moniker for the soon to be married couple.

Despite the fierce competition on the track, the love story unfolding off it captured the collective imagination. Charles and Alexandra, who had chosen to focus on their racing careers and delay their wedding, became the center of attention.

The countdown to their impending nuptials only added another layer of intrigue to an already thrilling season.

Many fans had assumed that the couple had a deal, which meant they'd get married once one of them won a WDC. However, after Alexandra's win last year, they were proven wrong.

Throughout the year, as the battle for the championship raged on, the couple had managed to keep the intensity of the races separate from their private lives.

Behind closed doors in their Monaco home, the stress of competition melted away, replaced by a sanctuary of love and shared dreams.

Now, as they prepared for the final race, the media speculated on whether this momentous occasion would see them stepping onto the podium as champions and soon-to-be newlyweds.

The anticipation hung thick in the air, blending the excitement of the race with the promise of a celebration that would echo through the annals of Formula 1 history.

Over the past three years, to the outside world, Charles and Alexandra's lives had woven into a rich tapestry of love, success, and growth.

Theo, now a spirited seven-year-old, had taken the karting world by storm, showcasing an inherited talent that mirrored the racing prowess of his father, aunt and uncles.

James, Eleanor, and Theo had joined Alexandra and Charles in Monaco, the family ties growing stronger against the breathtaking Mediterranean backdrop.

The once turbulent relationships were now anchored in a shared commitment to family, and Eleanor had become an integral part of the Monaco scene - her activism as a nurse for the Heroux Foundation had shown incredible promise, and she'd since joined the UN as an ambassador.

As Theo's karting adventures flourished, his accomplishments were celebrated not just as an individual achievement but as a testament to the united family they had all become.

Throughout his karting career, Alexandra and Charles attended almost every race, only missing those that clashed with their own race weekends.

The argument was still ongoing over who Theo supported - Red Bull or Ferrari - although after Alexandra's WDC win, she was certain she'd become the favourite.