It is a name that certainly brings pride to Macau. Charles Leong, just 21 years old, has already won two F4 championships at the Macau Grand Prix, won in 2020 and 2021. Now, in 2022, he will try for a third, to keep the trophy at “home”. Still without F3 in this edition, he already thinks about the possibility of Macau hosting F1. “I think if you try, you can succeed”
-What is your first memory of motor racing. Why did you start racing
Charles Leong – My interest in auto racing started with a Japanese anime series called “Initial D” which also spawned a video game. I tried that game when I was three years old, the first time I went to an arcade. That’s how I got a taste for sports. I followed F1 on TV, and the first time I watched the Macau GP was during the 60th edition, which had two weekends of competition. Before that, I didn’t care much.
-Who is your favorite F1 driver?
C.L. – It is Max Verstappen, since he races in go-karts. I have always tried to learn from him. I like his driving style. He is very aggressive and takes risks. He made a lot of mistakes in the first phase of his career, but now he is on his way to being a two-time world champion. He runs on the limit, but he knows there are limits and he drives almost perfectly.
-What is your opinion about bringing the F1 to Macau?
C.L. – I think Macau can receive the F1. Monaco is also very small and has one of the most iconic races. I am not an expert in circuit safety and I don’t know what would need to be done at Guia or elsewhere to make an F1 race viable, but I think if you try, you can succeed.
-At the age of 10 you competed for the first time. How was it to start so early?
C.L. – The first competition was in karting, in Mainland China. In Macau, my first experience was negative. I arrived at the kart track in Coloane and they said I had to be 18 years old and have a driving license, besides there was no one to support or give advice about the track or the car. Even so, in 2011, I participated in the Asian Karting Championship, in the Mini ROK category, integrated in a team that bet on me.
-From 2016 to 2018, you went through Formula Masters, AFR Series, Formula Renault and F3. Which of these transitions represented the biggest challenge?
C.L. – The challenge was identical in each transition. The important thing is the adaptation to the new car. There is always an initial testing period, which lasts five to ten days. The problem is that budgets grow exponentially. In F3, a day of testing can cost 10,000 euros.
-In your case, family support was essential.
C.L. – It was my family that supported me in the beginning. The government also helped, but I got to F3 when I was 16, and the size of the budgets was too big for the family to support. What I received from the government wasn’t enough for a full season either.
-Obtaining sponsorship is the constant obstacle for all drivers, particularly for Macau drivers.
C.L. – In Macau it is always complicated. Especially in these three years, with the economy down. The sport itself has changed. Before, you could race for talent only, even if you didn’t have much money. Today, without sponsorship, you can’t get a team. Without money, you don’t race. That’s the reality.
-In 2018, you make your debut in F3.
C.L. -Yes. in the Macau GP.
-Since then, where have you driven F3?
C.L. -In 2018, I drove at Silverstone in the European F3 Championship. I also drove in the Asian Championship. In 2019, I drove F3 in Sochi, Russia, and in Macau. In 2018, Spanish driver Alex Palou crashed at the Lisboa turn and I and three others who were coming behind eventually had to drop out. Still, I was very pleased with my participation, because I had only been driving F3 for six months and had done few races.
-Obviously, going from F3 to F4 is not ideal, but these are the circumstances. This year you will defend your 2020 and 2021 F4 titles. Do you feel pressure to win the third?
C.L. – I am relaxed. In Macau, every driver has a chance to win, because mistakes are common. When I am in the car, the mind is clear and the level of focus is very high. Of course I want to win third and maybe next year, when Macau is more open, to try F3 again. This year will be my fifth Macau GP.
-Since the drivers have the same car, does a local driver have an advantage for knowing the circuit better?
C.L. – You learn the circuit quickly. The most important thing is to adapt to the car and get the best tuning. Know the limits of the car.
-In 2022, more foreign drivers will participate. Is this something you like?
C.L. – It’s always good to have foreign drivers in the GP. I don’t know why the F4 doesn’t have that opportunity.
-In which other categories have you raced?
C.L. – I raced GT in China, with Harmony Racing, driving a Ferrari GT3 458. I would like to participate in the Macau GT Cup, but it didn’t work out this year.
