🏆 2020 Virtual GP Performance
During the COVID-19 lockdown, Charles dominated the early Virtual GP series with back-to-back wins, becoming the first active F1 driver to win an official esports race (Guinness World Record). He won at Albert Park (April 5, 2020) and Shanghai (April 19, 2020). George Russell later won four consecutive races and took the overall series honors.
| Virtual GP 2020 | Winner |
|---|---|
| Bahrain | Guanyu Zhou |
| Vietnam (at Melbourne) | Charles Leclerc |
| China | Charles Leclerc |
| Brazil | Alex Albon |
| Spain/Monaco/Azerbaijan/Canada | George Russell (4 wins) |
🏎️ Two Rigs, One Obsession
Charles doesn't just have one sim rig — he has TWO, purpose-built for different racing styles. Both share the same Fanatec core but serve different purposes.
🏎️ F1 Rig (Track Racing)
For Virtual GPs, F1 games, and single-seater training
- Playseat F1 Red (Ferrari Red)
- Fanatec Podium wheelbase
- ClubSport F1 wheel
- ClubSport V3 pedals
- Samsung 49" ultrawide
🏔️ Rally Rig (Drifting & GT)
For DiRT Rally, WRC, drifting, and GT racing
- Playseat Sensation Pro (Ferrari Red)
- Same Fanatec Podium wheelbase
- Round/GT wheel rim
- ClubSport Shifter SQ v1.5
- ClubSport Handbrake V1.5
| Component | Model / Spec | Metric | Est. Cost (MSRP) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wheelbase | Fanatec Podium Reported | DD (model unconfirmed) | ~$1,600 |
| F1 Wheel | ClubSport F1 Wheel Verified | F1-style | ~$400 |
| Rally Wheel | ClubSport RS / Round Rim Verified | Round 320mm | ~$350 |
| Pedals | Fanatec ClubSport V3 Verified | Load Cell | ~$430 |
| Shifter | ClubSport Shifter SQ v1.5 Verified | H-Pattern/Seq | ~$300 |
| Handbrake | ClubSport Handbrake V1.5 Verified | Analog | ~$150 |
| F1 Cockpit | Playseat F1 Red Verified | F1 Position | ~$2,499 |
| Rally Cockpit | Playseat Sensation Pro Verified | GT Position | ~$1,199 |
| Primary Display | Samsung 49" Ultrawide (C49HG90) Verified | 49" 32:9 | Discontinued* |
| Headset | Logitech G Pro X Verified | Pro Audio | ~$130 |
| Stream Deck | Elgato Stream Deck Reported | 15 Keys | ~$150 |
| PC | High-end custom (RTX GPU) Reported | Specs unconfirmed | ~$2,000+ |
"I've got one for rallying and drifting... and then the other one for Formula One. So yeah, all in red of course, all in red!"— Charles Leclerc, Twitch stream (June 2021)
🛠️ Hardware Deep Dive
🎮 The Fanatec Core
Fanatec Podium Wheelbase ReportedPrimary
Charles uses a Fanatec Podium direct drive wheelbase (~$1,600) for both his F1 and rally rigs. It's the centerpiece of his entire setup, providing the force feedback fidelity needed for an F1 driver's muscle memory to transfer between real and virtual.
ClubSport F1 Wheel VerifiedF1 Rig
Charles uses a Fanatec ClubSport Formula wheel (~$400) for F1 games and track racing. It features the familiar F1-style shape with paddles and rotary encoders.
ClubSport V3 Pedals VerifiedBoth Rigs
Fanatec ClubSport V3 load-cell pedals (~$430) — Charles famously drives without shoes for finer brake feel. The load-cell brake measures pressure, not travel, making it easier to build consistency.
Charles' tip: He drives without shoes to get more precise feedback through his feet.
ClubSport Shifter SQ v1.5 + Handbrake VerifiedRally Rig
For rally and drifting, Charles adds the ClubSport Shifter SQ v1.5 (~$300) and ClubSport Handbrake V1.5 (~$150). These let him pull off proper Scandinavian flicks in DiRT Rally.
🪑 Dual Cockpits
Playseat F1 Red (Ferrari Red) VerifiedF1 Rig
The Playseat F1 (~$2,499) in Ferrari red matches Charles' real F1 seating position. The low, reclined position helps muscle memory transfer to his actual race car.
Playseat Sensation Pro VerifiedRally Rig
The Playseat Sensation Pro (~$1,199) in Ferrari red has a more upright GT/rally seating position, perfect for games where you need to see more of the environment and work the handbrake.
🖥️ Display & Audio
Samsung 49" Ultrawide (C49HG90) VerifiedPrimary
Charles uses a Samsung 49-inch ultrawide for most racing. For big endurance events like the Virtual 24h Le Mans, he's been seen with triple monitors plus a fourth for telemetry — "Mission Control in his living room."
Logitech G Pro X Headset VerifiedActive
The Logitech G Pro X (~$130) keeps voice chat clear during streams and multiplayer races. It's the same headset used by many other F1 drivers and streamers.
PC Specifications ReportedUnconfirmed
Charles uses a high-end custom PC with an RTX-series GPU. Exact specifications (CPU, GPU model, RAM) have not been publicly documented.
🎮 What Charles Plays
From the April 2025 Ferrari interview and his Twitch streams, here's what Charles plays on his sim rig and gaming setup:
Assetto Corsa
"I cannot wait for the new one... we're gonna have to quit everything else"
Sim RacingF1 Games
Main platform for Virtual GP series
Sim RacingCall of Duty
"I only play Call of Duty nowadays" — his main non-racing game
FPSFortnite
"I used to play Fortnite a lot" — source of the famous banana suit
Battle RoyaleChess
Plays with Lewis Hamilton
Strategy🍌 The Banana Suit Legend
April 25, 2020 — During a casual lockdown stream, a fan sent Charles a Fortnite "Peely" banana costume to his Monaco apartment. He put it on live, exclaimed "Oh My God! I've never looked so good!" and wore it for the remainder of the stream.
Official F1 social media captured the moment, calling it "iconic." This clip became one of sim racing's most memorable Twitch moments and cemented Charles' reputation as the grid's most entertaining streamer.
🚪 The Lockout Incident
During another 2020 lockdown stream, Charles was so focused on racing with noise-canceling headphones that he didn't hear his girlfriend Charlotte knocking at the door. She had to subscribe to his Twitch channel just to type "CHARLES OPEN THE DOOR" in chat — which he finally noticed 25 minutes later. The story was picked up by Reuters and other news outlets.
💰 How Much Does Charles Leclerc's Sim Rig Cost?
Charles' dual-rig setup totals approximately $7,000 – $8,500 at current MSRP. Here's the breakdown:
Charles' Dual Rig Build (Current MSRP)
Prices reflect current MSRP as of January 2026. Actual prices may vary. PC specs unconfirmed — add ~$2,000+ for a high-end build.
Single Rig Budget Alternative
Frequently Asked Questions
What sim racing setup does Charles Leclerc use?
Charles Leclerc uses a Fanatec Podium direct drive wheelbase, ClubSport F1 wheel, ClubSport V3 pedals, and dual Playseat cockpits — one Playseat F1 Red for track racing and one Playseat Sensation Pro with handbrake and shifter for rally. He pairs this with a Samsung 49-inch ultrawide monitor.
How much does Charles Leclerc's sim rig cost?
Charles Leclerc's dual-rig setup totals approximately $7,000-8,500 at current MSRP, including both Playseat cockpits (~$3,700 combined), the Fanatec Podium ecosystem (~$2,880), display (~$1,000+), and streaming accessories. PC specs are unconfirmed — add an estimated ~$2,000+ for a high-end build.
Why does Charles Leclerc have two sim rigs?
Charles has one rig for F1 and track racing (Playseat F1 with low, reclined seating) and another for rally/drifting (Playseat Sensation Pro with handbrake and sequential shifter). Both share the same Fanatec wheelbase and pedals — he moves them between cockpits or has duplicates.
What is the Charles Leclerc banana suit story?
On April 25, 2020, a fan mailed Charles a Fortnite "Peely" banana costume during the COVID-19 lockdown. He put it on mid-stream, exclaimed "Oh My God! I've never looked so good!" and continued racing. The clip went viral and became one of sim racing's most memorable Twitch moments.
Does Charles Leclerc drive without shoes?
Yes! BoxThisLap confirms that Charles uses his ClubSport V3 pedals "without shoes" to get finer brake feel. The load-cell pedal measures pressure, not travel, so having more direct feedback through his feet helps with consistency.
Is Charles Leclerc still streaming on Twitch?
Charles' Twitch channel has been inactive since March 2021. His iconic streams during the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown peaked at 72,438 concurrent viewers and made him part of the "Twitch Quartet" alongside Norris, Russell, and Albon, but he hasn't streamed regularly in over four years.
Did Charles Leclerc win the Virtual GP championship?
Charles won two consecutive Virtual GP races in April 2020 (Vietnam at Melbourne and China at Shanghai), becoming the first active F1 driver to win an official esports race (Guinness World Record). However, George Russell won four consecutive races and dominated the overall series.
What games does Charles Leclerc play?
Charles plays iRacing (which he calls "the best for actual racing"), Assetto Corsa, F1 games, Gran Turismo ("legendary"), Call of Duty (his main non-racing game), Fortnite, and rally sims like DiRT Rally. He also plays chess with Lewis Hamilton.
📚 Sources
🎯 Primary Sources (Tier 1)
- BoxThisLap Hardware Breakdown (Sep 2024) — Detailed breakdown of Charles' Fanatec setup and dual rig configuration. Confirms Playseat F1 Red, Sensation Pro, V3 pedals "without shoes", shifter SQ v1.5, and the door lockout story.
- OC Racing Hardware Breakdown (May 2025) — Video analysis of Charles' sim room and equipment. Confirms Samsung 49" ultrawide, Logitech G Pro X, and Playseat Sensation Pro.
- Charles' Twitch "Setup Gaming" Stream (Jun 2021) — Direct footage showing his dual rig setup with commentary: "I've got one for rallying and drifting... and then the other one for Formula One. All in red of course."
📰 Secondary Sources (Tier 2)
- Ferrari: Lewis & Charles Rate Video Games (Apr 2025) — Discussion of games Charles plays including iRacing, Assetto Corsa, Gran Turismo, Call of Duty, and Fortnite.
- Guinness World Records — First Formula 1 eSport race win by an active F1 driver (April 5, 2020)
⚠️ Verification Notes
- Wheelbase model: Sources confirm "Fanatec Podium" without specifying DD1 vs DD2. We report Podium series without claiming a specific model.
- PC specifications: No public source confirms exact CPU/GPU specs. Estimated high-end RTX build (~$2,000+).
- Stream Deck version: Elgato Stream Deck confirmed; specific MK.2 version unverified.
- F1 Wheel model: Sources say "ClubSport F1" or "Formula wheel" without specifying V2.5X or other version.