Since Charles Leclerc entered Formula 1 in 2018, the Scuderia Ferrari driver has quickly cemented himself as one of the most popular drivers on the grid. With seven years spent racing for the Italian Constructors, he’s long been hailed by the team and its fan base, the Tifosi, for bringing back the glory days.
Off the track and over the years, Charles followed in his now-teammate Lewis Hamilton’s footsteps by experimenting in the fashion space. He’s been spotted donning brands such as Brunello Cucinelli, Off-White and Giorgio Armani — he was named a global brand ambassador for Puma in October 2024.
Leclerc said in an interview for the cover of WWD’s special Miami Grand Prix Weekend issue: “I love fashion. It’s still a world that fascinates me, that I am learning about and that I really enjoy. I’m getting to know a lot more about fashion now. And it’s a way to express yourself without speaking, and this is really the way I like to look at it.”
Playing a supporting role in Leclerc’s continued presence among the best dressed on the grid is Carlotta Constant, a former style editor of British Vogue and GQ who’s now made her way as a freelance stylist.
With a growing number of commercial brand partnerships inked and millions of eyeballs on him on social media — 21 million followers on Instagram; 4.3 million on TikTok and more than 3.6 million on X, the driver and his team turned to Constant. She was brought on for projects including Chivas Regal, Bang & Olufsen, APM Monaco, Peroni and for the launch of his creative studio, Sidequest.
Leclerc previously told WWD that “Carlotta…really changed the way I see fashion and how I can express myself with what I wear. I really enjoy it — the process of going through my personality and what I felt I was comfortable with. We went through that process and now she helps me to express myself the best way possible with the way I dress. It’s really nice.”
Their relationship has grown and she is now officially his stylist. Constant has also helped source and style looks for Leclerc’s girlfriend and social media influencer, Alexandra Saint Mleux.
Since going out on her own, Constant has been making a name for herself dressing some of the biggest names in the world of sports — working with the likes of Hamilton, Didier Drogba, David Beckham, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Son Heung-min and Britain’s women’s soccer team. Constant has also been developing her relationship with tennis star Jack Draper, whom she styled for the Burberry spring 2026 show.
Here, the stylist sat down with WWD to give an exclusive interview ahead of the 2025 Austin Grand Prix, about how she first got introduced to Leclerc and the journey of their working relationship, what distinguishes styling a Formula 1 driver from other celebrities and athletes, the crossover between the sport and fashion and more.
Carlotta Constant
Courtesy of Carlotta Constant
WWD: How did you first get introduced to Charles Leclerc?
Carlotta Constant: At the end of 2024, I got a last-minute call to join a Chivas Regal shoot in Monaco — a friend of a friend reached out, saying, “You’d be perfect for this, please say yes.” I jumped on board, and it turned out to be one of the best decisions.
When the campaign launched months later in March 2025, my feed was flooded with videos of Charles from the shoot. People were going crazy about his style. Knowing I had played a role in shaping that visual impact from the shoot was amazing. His team and I clicked instantly. Charles surrounds himself with brilliant, grounded people and when you meet him, you can see why. That connection naturally led to me being asked back to Monaco for another shoot. From there, Charles and I found a rhythm — an effortless synergy that works.
WWD: How did you go from styling Charles commercially to working with him regularly?
C.C.: With someone like Charles, whose world is incredibly high-pressure and constantly moving — and a big thing is trust. After a few commercial projects together, that trust began to build naturally. It wasn’t an instant shift, but we got used to one another’s way of working and our styling preferences. I love that it has never felt forced; it evolved into a rhythm where working together became natural. I now have a very good idea of what looks or pieces he’s drawn to right away — and equally, the type of things he won’t like.
Charles Leclerc wears Sanēa’s Anurak embellished shirt and Chawi tailored trousers with Aimé Leon Dore Queens Crest raffia loafers at the Chivas Regal Crystalgold event, ahead of the 2025 Singapore Grand Prix.
Edwin Koo/AP Content Services for Chivas Regal
WWD: How does styling a Formula 1 driver differ from working with other athletes and celebrities?
C.C.: The biggest difference is their body types. From one athlete to another, I must consider a different silhouette to suit their figure. Footballers usually have lean frames but powerful thighs — where a regular-fitting pair of trousers might not look right.
Formula 1 drivers tend to have these incredibly strong necks from enduring G-forces in the car — something I never had to consider before. With Charles, it took me time to adjust to it, but now it’s second nature. Those little details make all the difference when tailoring clothes to look effortless.
Working with a Formula 1 driver also demands careful planning and organization. Charles will be on the road for three to four weeks without coming home or having time for a fitting. We’ll often work simultaneously on several looks in advance or organize fittings in the cities he’s in.
Charles Leclerc wears a Chintan embroidered shirt, Oliver Spencer Orsman trousers, APM Monaco Pavé chain necklace, Rayban Wayfarer sunglasses and Richard Mille RM 72-01 in-house chronograph watch.
Antoine Truchet/SIDEQUEST
WWD: With the intersection of fashion and Formula 1 continuing to explode, how does styling in Formula 1 operate differently?
C.C.: Formula 1 is at such a pivotal moment culturally. Drivers were defined by their uniforms — team colors, logos and sponsors. It’s easy to lose individuality when you’re in the same race suit every weekend. But we’re seeing a real shift — drivers can express their personality through fashion in the paddock — and big brands take notice. LVMH’s 10-year partnership symbolizes the “luxurification” of the sport.
Skin care brands like Elemis are entering the paddock, which shows just how broad the lifestyle appeal has become. In five years, we’ll look back and see this era as the turning point where fashion and Formula 1 truly became intertwined.
Charles Leclerc wears a Che Studio Cotton Shirt with his dog, Leo.
Antoine Truchet/SIDEQUEST
WWD: What’s the selection process when you and Charles are choosing designers?
C.C.: It depends on the occasion and the story we want to tell. I’ll usually send him options to start with and we’ll go back and forth — it’s a very collaborative process. Charles has such a clear sense of himself: He’s the epitome of a modern gentleman. He gravitates toward elegant casual looks. Think quiet luxury, modern tailoring and effortless suiting, with a ’90s and 2000s nod.
He’s always been interested in fashion, so I love introducing new brands into his wardrobe, staying within his personal preferences on fit and shape. Some of his favourite brands are French and Italian masters who share his attention to detail. His eye for detail is razor sharp. At our very first fitting, I tried to put him in a pair of Margiela Tabis. He laughed and said, “Maybe one day — but not quite yet.”
He’s a world-class athlete before anything else — the key is to feel good and look even better. The aim is for him to play with fashion to express himself every day, whether he’s in the spotlight or he isn’t.
Carlotta Constant styles Charles Leclerc on the set of his Chivas Regal campaign.
Antoine Truchet/SIDEQUEST
WWD: With Formula 1 drivers stepping into fashion, how do you see this trajectory shaping their careers and cultivating their image?
C.C.: For any public figure, longevity is about building a world beyond your profession. Athletes can’t race or play forever, so the smartest ones use fashion and lifestyle to expand their influence. But it has to be authentic and has to make sense.
Once something feels contrived, it loses its magic. That’s why Charles impresses me — he genuinely cares about everything he puts his name to. When he’s in something, you know it represents him, not just a brand.
WWD: How do you see the relationship between Formula 1 and fashion evolving?
C.C.: We’re just at the beginning. Formula 1 has never had so many eyes on it. With the boom in fashion, beauty and lifestyle partnerships, Formula 1 has become more than a sport — it’s a global cultural stage. Drivers are no longer just athletes — they’re style icons, ambassadors and muses. In the next decade, I see Formula 1 becoming one of the most powerful intersections of sport, luxury and culture. I couldn’t be more excited to be part of that journey.