Charles Leclerc Impersonates Steph Curry, and the NBA Might Be Calling Ferrari for a Big Career Switch

It’s no secret that the Formula 1 drivers love their sports. Whether it’s their upcoming Netflix golf tournament or it’s the grid teaming up with FIFA legends in a penalty shootout challenge, whenever sports are involved, the enthusiastic racers are bound to show up! We’ve seen Sebastian Vettel and Mick Schumacher participate in the Race of Champions, but the current Ferrari maestro is on a different ‘ballgame’.

At the beginning of this year, Charles Leclerc was accompanied by Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon at the NBA event in Paris. The F1 trio watched in awe as the Chicago Bulls crushed the Detroit Pistons to secure a dominant win at the buzzer. Whilst there are many basketball aficionados in Formula 1, we were certainly not expecting Charles Leclerc to take some mean three-pointers!

The NBA has had quite the effect on Charles Leclerc

It’s safe to say the basketball bug had bitten Charles Leclerc back then after the Monegasque was spotted on the court with some impressive ball control! In an Instagram post, a shirtless Leclerc can be seen lining up behind the three-pointer line in true Steph Curry fashion, with his friends cheering him on as the Monegasque puts it through the net on his first try!

In his earlier appearance during the NBA Paris event, Charles Leclerc and Pierre Gasly joined Ex-NBA All-stars Tony Parker and Joakim Noah to shoot some hoops before the big game. While they were just having fun, Leclerc put in some practice hours and if Netflix ever hosts a Netflix Cup for Basketball, you best believe the Monegasque can be on the roster!

The NBA might also be calling Ferrari for a career switch for the 25-year-old after his string of bad luck doesn’t seem to be ending. Earlier this week media had asked Leclerc to consider the Le Mans as a break from Ferrari’s woeful performances lately, but there might be a third alternative in the form of the  NBA if Leclerc decided he’d like to throw the hoop around for a bit.

READ MORE: Charles Leclerc Poetically Urged to Follow in Michael Schumacher’s Footsteps Instead of Religious Detour

While we’re on the topic of Basketball and the Netflix Cup, let’s take a look at other drivers who could accompany Charles Leclerc if such a sequel to the Golf event takes place!

Apart from Charles Leclerc, which F1 drivers have shown love for the NBA?

Over the years there have been numerous drivers who have attended NBA playoffs and F1 has seen its fair share of Basketball fanatics on the grid. And we can’t forget Lewis Hamilton taking part in a free throw basketball challenge before the 2023 Miami Grand Prix, joining Brandon Okpalobi in the free-throw shenanigans! Which would make him an ideal choice for a possible Netflix Cup with the NBA.

Another promising contestant could very well be the Honey Badger, who had a blast during his short vacation away from the sport. The 33-year-old was spotted at a New York Knicks game with his girlfriend, Heidi Berger. Whilst Daniel Ricciardo is back on track to score points for Alpha Tauri, he might want to have a go at some three-pointers too!

And of course, how can we forget Pierre Gasly, who keeps up with the current season the most out of the drivers, recently congratulated Victor Wembanyama for his shocking dribbling skills that had won his fellow Frenchman over! With Leclerc and Gasly taking part in a game of throw at the Paris NBA game, the pair could be a formidable force for the NBA players even if the two were on the same team.

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Ultimately, this is purely speculation based on the driver’s interest in the sport, but if Netflix’s Cup is successful in delivering the fans with some killer entertainment, an NBA-Formula 1 crossover isn’t too far-fetched!