Charles Leclerc Reveals His Simple Pre-Race Routine: Jumping Rope, Cold Baths, and a Specific Diet for F1 Success

Ferrari F1 driver Charles Leclerc has revealed the three key elements of his pre-race routine, sharing insights into how he prepares for Grand Prix weekends during an appearance on “The Do Show” at the Chinese Grand Prix earlier this season.

The 28-year-old Monegasque driver stated that his preparation consists of jumping rope, taking cold baths, and maintaining a consistent, simple diet before getting into his Formula 1 car. Leclerc emphasized that he eats the same thing prior to every race to avoid any digestive issues while enduring the intense G-forces experienced during competition.

“Yes, I do, the jumping rope, the cold bath, and the diet,” Leclerc said, as reported by Yahoo Sports. “I tend to (always eat) the same thing before getting into the car.”

“Proteins, either white fish or chicken, but in quite small quantities, and a little bit of carbohydrates, so probably rice is the easier one to digest before getting into a Formula 1 car. These are the two things that I eat before getting into an F1 car.”

Charles Leclerc

Leclerc explained that his dietary approach focuses on easily digestible proteins and minimal carbohydrates to ensure comfort and focus while driving at speeds exceeding 200 mph. He noted that consuming the wrong foods before a race could negatively impact his performance, comparing it to how he would feel eating improperly before a leisurely highway drive.

The Ferrari driver, who joined the team in 2019 after racing for Sauber, has accumulated eight victories, 27 pole positions, and 52 podium finishes in his Formula 1 career. As of the 2026 season, Leclerc has secured third-place finishes in the Australian and Japanese Grands Prix, with a fourth-place result in China, placing him third in the world championship standings with 49 points.