F1 drivers wearing expensive accessories in public areas while getting pictures taken with supposed fans is not a good combination. After the incident with Lando Norris – where he was mugged after the Euro 2020 Final at Wembley in 2021; you would think Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc would’ve been more careful while obliging “fans,” especially without security.

One year after that incident in Italy, with footage of Leclerc’s attempted chase straight out of a Grand Theft Auto game that ended in vain on the internet, the Ferrari driver has finally learned his lesson.

Charles Leclerc won’t repeat his mistake

What happened in Italy is not something Charles Leclerc would want to relive. An unsuspecting Leclerc was taking a picture with a supposed fan of the Scuderia. Turns out the accused was part of an organized gang who identified Leclerc and plotted to steal his Richard Mille watch from right under his nose. And they succeeded. Even though he had to let go of his watch worth $320,000, at least Charles could find some solace in the fact that he was safe & sound.

As an F1 driver, especially for one of the most well-known teams in the world, refusing to take pictures with fans and sign autographs isn’t something Leclerc can do. But he has learned his lesson because, in a video posted by a Twitter user, the Monegasque is surrounded by fans and is being bombarded with requests for autographs and pictures. While he obliges all of them, he discreetly undoes his watch and slips it into the safety of his pocket. 

While F1 drivers are known for their speed, Leclerc wouldn’t want to use it in an actual high-speed chase off-track. Oh wait, he already has. Well, he wouldn’t want to go through that again.

Read More: After Being Robbed of $320,000 Valuable, Charles Leclerc Draws Strict Boundaries for Tifosi With a Stern Message

After Lando’s incident and his own, he is determined to make sure it doesn’t happen again, and if that entails refusing to sign a few autographs to clicking pictures, so be it. Being more like Kimi Raikkonen won’t hurt anyone. 

Was Lando Norris’ Mugging Incident Similar to Leclerc’s?

Soccer is like a religion in the UK. So when England lost to Italy on penalties in the Euro 2020 Finals at Wembley Stadium in 2021, English fans were acting more rowdy than usual. After attending the match, when McLaren driver Lando Norris was exiting the stadium, he was mugged while getting into his car—one person holding him in a headlock. At the same time, another took his five-of-a-kind Richard Mille. 

After the incident, McLaren released an official statement reporting that Norris was unharmed but shaken. And after an incident like that, who wouldn’t be? There weren’t any incidents like this until Leclerc was caught off-guard and robbed last year.

WATCH THIS STORY | How Long Will Charles Leclerc Wait for Ferrari – Will He Leave for Some Other team Post-2024? 

Both drivers seem to have learned from their experiences. And as much as it is scary to hear about these incidents, it’s good to know they’ve figured out ways to avoid them.