Formula 1 star Charles Leclerc has £265,000 watch stolen in Italy – after Lando Norris was mugged of the same brand in Euro 2020 final at Wembley

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Formula 1 championship leader Charles Leclerc has had a €320,000 [£265,000] watch stolen from him in Italy.

The robbery occurred in the Tuscan city of Viareggio, with the Richard Mille timepiece taken while the Ferrari driver was taking photos with fans.


The custom-made watch that has gone missing

Instagram @CharlesLeclerc

It’s reported in Motorsport.com that the custom RM67 piece could ‘easily exceed one million [euro]’ at a specialised auction, with Leclerc sponsored by the Swiss company for much of his career.

The watch was designed especially for Leclerc in the colours of Monaco, where the 24-year-old hails from.

The watchmakers signed up with Leclerc’s Ferrari squad last season, and also have a deal with McLaren.

McLaren’s Lando Norris had a similar watch stolen in the aftermath of England’s loss to Italy in the Euro 2020 final. The incident left the British driver ‘shaken’ and struggling with sleep.

On that occasion the Bristol-born star had his £40,000 prototype watch taken in violent circumstances, while in Leclerc’s case, he initially didn’t even realise the robbery had taken place.


Norris experienced a similar incident at the Euro 2020 final last summer

“The Monegasque was in Versilia with his athletic trainer, Andrea Ferrari, when shortly after 10pm a group of people asked Charles to take a souvenir photo,” Motorsport.com claimed.

“The dexterity of the theft led to the hypothesis of a planned operation, and when Leclerc realised that he had been robbed, he could not help but report everything to the local Carabinieri barracks.

“Investigations are underway to verify the presence of any security cameras in the theft area that could help identify the perpetrators.”


Leclerc had been back home in Monte Carlo for the ATP Masters before heading to Italy

AFP


But has since lost his prized possession

Getty

Leclerc’s trainer, Ferrari, also commented on the theft with an Instagram post complaining about the lighting in the area.

“Via Salvatori has been completely in the dark for months,” Ferrari wrote. “We have been reporting this for months.

“Well, yesterday evening in Via Salvatori, they have robbed us. Think of arranging the lamps sooner or later? Asking for a friend.”

Leclerc’s late godfather, and former F1 driver, Jules Bianchi also had his Richard Mille stolen while in Paris in another similar event.


Source: TalkSport.com Motorsport