Ferrari F1 driver Charles Leclerc’s performance at the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix not only left fans on edge but also cost rapper Drake a staggering $210,000. The second edition of the race, a 50-lap challenge filled with unexpected twists, saw several teams struggling with cold temperatures and tire greening, which added to the unpredictability.
Starting in P4, Leclerc made an impressive move at the start, passing his Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz and Pierre Gasly to move into second place, just behind Mercedes’ George Russell, who was on pole. Leclerc’s pace was strong in the opening laps, even putting pressure on Russell for the lead as they raced side-by-side down the Las Vegas Strip.
However, after a thrilling challenge for the top spot, Leclerc’s performance dramatically dropped off, and he found himself sliding back to P4, behind Sainz and Max Verstappen. Although Leclerc fought back during the race’s second and third stints on hard tires, it wasn’t enough to secure a podium, and he ultimately finished in fourth place, behind his teammate Sainz.
The outcome didn’t sit well with Leclerc, who expressed his frustration with both the race result and the team’s execution. But the disappointment wasn’t limited to Leclerc alone. Rapper Drake, known for his high-profile sports bets, had placed $210,000 on Leclerc to win the race. Unfortunately for the Canadian artist, his bet didn’t pay off.
Leclerc reflected on his P4 finish, admitting the tough start to the race: “When I started to feel the Medium going at lap six, I thought, ‘This doesn’t look good.’ But the Hard tires helped me recover and get back into a more competitive position. Considering where I was after the first stint, finishing fourth wasn’t the worst result,” he explained.
Despite the recovery, Ferrari’s P3 and P4 finishes didn’t help much in the battle for the Constructors’ Championship, as they remain 24 points behind McLaren with just two races and one Sprint left in the season.