There was one moment during Italian Grand Prix week when Charles Leclerc broke into a cold sweat. Not during qualifying, not even during the race, but when he found himself sitting across a chessboard from Hikaru Nakamura. That was when even a driver like Leclerc, well, could feel fear.
It happened in the vast gardens of Villa Trivulzio, a sixteenth-century gem that once belonged to the Princes Trivulzio. Among the statues, Chivas Regal chose to unveil Chivas Regal 16 Year Old Limited Edition, the first 16-year-old whisky in the history of Chivas Regal and the first blend co-created with the Monegasque driver. And 16, of course, is no coincidence. For Leclerc, a pillar of Scuderia Ferrari, it is a way of life, an engine that never stops, a corner taken without touching the brakes. The constant companion in his single-seater, carrying him towards infinity. And perhaps beyond.
There is something of the same philosophy in “true mastery”, Chivas Regal’s idea of excellence. In Formula 1, it means the constant pursuit of a result, of a faster lap; in a glass of whisky, the ability to create a profile that is rich and, at the same time, delicate. So Leclerc set Sandy Hyslop, Chivas Regal’s Master Blender, a challenge: to create something new, something that reflected the driver’s vision. Sixteen whiskies, each aged for 16 years, came together to create the first 16-year-old Chivas Regal.
First unveiled at the Miami Grand Prix, Chivas Regal brought the challenge to the heart of Brianza during the week when Monza turns red for the Italian Grand Prix. In this sixteenth-century setting, Leclerc faced Hikaru Nakamura, the chess Grandmaster, in an unusual showdown inside the Chivas Regal Arena of Mastery. Two creations born from the same vision met across the board: Chivas Regal 16 Year Old and SE!ZE, the chess-inspired board game co-developed by Leclerc. Two different projects, one philosophy: every move and every choice count.
During the event, Leclerc, Nakamura, Master Blender Sandy Hyslop and Joel Harrison answered questions from the press. And after losing to the Grandmaster, Leclerc wanted to put one thing straight: “Until today, I was ten wins from ten. Of course, I have to say I was playing with my parents, my wife.” He then spoke about what it meant to have a hand in creating his first blend: “For me, it’s a great emotion to be here. It’s the result of a great team effort, with so many talented people involved. The challenge started with Sandy in Scotland, with the first Chivas Regal aged for sixteen years. Then the challenge came back to me, to think about a strategy game, because I’m a big chess fan. I’m really proud of what we achieved. And I have to say that having the chance to challenge a champion like Nakamura is a real honour for me. It represents the philosophy behind our work, the constant search for a new challenge.”
A Formula 1 driver is always at the centre of the world, and when you drive the red car, expectations are sky-high every day. So we asked Leclerc a question: if he could have anonymity for one day, away from the media and the spotlight, what would he do? “When I have some free time, I like to spend it with my family, my friends, my wife,” he tells Undici. “That’s what I love most. Of course, I feel lucky: I’m doing the job I’ve always dreamed of since I was a child, and every day I feel grateful to be a Formula 1 driver. But time passes faster than we imagine, so if I had the gift of anonymity for one day, I would spend it with the people I love. Where? Maybe in Africa, because it’s a place I’d really like to visit.” Not a bad choice.
And the game against the Grandmaster? For Leclerc, the chessboard was anything but sweet and delicate, at least against Nakamura. The result was emphatic: 10-1, with Leclerc out of the game after just the second move. Nakamura studied him for a moment, then raised an eyebrow with an almost Ancelotti-like calm. “Are you sure?” Better to stick to Formula 1, Charles.