Emilia Romagna Grand Prix 2022: Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc robbed of $430k watch in Italy

Ferrari driver and F1 championship leader Charles Leclerc was the victim of a robbery in Italy where his $430,000 watch was snatched.

Ferrari's Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc was robbed in Italy.

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc has been robbed of a watch estimated to be worth $430,000.

Reports out of Italy claim the 24-year-old was with friends and his trainer in Tuscan city of Viareggio on Easter Monday when the robbery took place.

Having been recognised by fans, Leclerc stopped for photos and to sign autographs and as the crowd grew in size, it is understood one fan took his watch.

The matter was reported to local police.

Leclerc’s trainer, Andrea Ferrari, took to social media to express his disappointment that nothing had been done to improve lighting and safety in the city.

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

“We have been reporting this for months.

Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc was robbed of his expensive watch.

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

Leclerc was believed to have been wearing a watch designed by Richard Mille — a long-time sponsor of the Monegasque driver.

Formula One returns to Italy this weekend at Imola in the sprint race format.

Leclerc is leading the F1 championship by 34 points after claiming his second win of the season in Melbourne earlier this month.

Heading into Ferrari’s “home race”, Leclerc has questioned whether Imola is the ideal setting for the new sprint format — one of three this season.

Drivers will contest qualifying on Friday after just one practice session before a 100km sprint race on Saturday, the results of which will decide the grid for Sunday’s race.

With more points up for grabs, Leclerc is not convinced organisers have allocated sprint races to the right tracks in 2022.

“I had completely forgotten that we have a sprint race there,” Leclerc said.

“There are a lot of things that are going to be quite crazy in Imola for us and obviously other that it will also be a race weekend where we’ll have a sprint race.

“Whether it’s the right track to do so or not, I don’t know – I think we’ll have the answer after the weekend. With these cars, also, maybe it’s a bit easier to follow, so hopefully it should be an exciting sprint race and race.”

Originally published as Emilia Romagna Grand Prix 2022: Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc robbed of $430k watch in Italy