Amid the chaos of the Singapore Grand Prix in early October, Ferrari’s star driver Charles Leclerc still found time to unveil something new. Teaming up with Chivas Regal, he helped launch Chivas Regal Crystalgold—a groundbreaking release from the legendary Scotch whisky brand that redefines what tradition can look and taste like.
As its name suggests, Crystalgold is crystal clear—pairing the mixability and versatility of a clear spirit with the depth of flavour and craftsmanship of an oak-aged Scotch. It’s the result of years of experimentation, with Chivas perfecting a filtration process that removes colour while preserving the Chivas' signature richness.
“We’ve always believed that innovation should enhance tradition, not erase it—and Chivas Regal Crystalgold is the epitome of that,” said Chivas Regal’s Master Blender, Sandy Hyslop. “Our goal wasn’t just to innovate, but to preserve everything people love about an oak-aged spirit, while presenting it in a way you’ve never seen from us before. The clarity is striking, but the flavour is unmistakably ours.”
At the heart of this launch is Leclerc, Chivas Regal’s Global Brand Ambassador. Their partnership debuted in March during Melbourne’s F1 Grand Prix week, at a special evening hosted by Maison Batard’s Le Club.
The pairing makes total sense. Precision, control and an eye for detail have long defined Leclerc’s racing career—but it’s his off-track curiosity, from music and chess to design and creativity, that makes him such a natural fit for a brand built on balancing heritage and innovation. Both push boundaries while honouring the craftsmanship that got them there.
Leclerc sat down with Complex Australia in Singapore to talk about blending innovation with tradition, Melbourne versus Singapore, and how he stays grounded in a schedule that rarely pauses. The interview, lightly edited for clarity, is below.
Chivas Regal’s Crystalgold fuses innovation and tradition. In your world, what happens when innovation and tradition collide?
It creates something very, very special. As an athlete, that’s also the way I go about things. I obviously need to remember who I am and where I come from, but I also need to push boundaries and step out of my comfort zone in order to improve and become a better version of myself—as a racing driver, an athlete, and a person in general.
With such a busy schedule, where do you find the time to be creative?
Whenever I have some downtime, that’s when I become creative. My mind goes into creative mode on its own. Music is definitely a good tool for me to be even more creative, and driving as well. Nearly every week, I go to Maranello in Italy, to the Ferrari office, and I’ve got a four-hour drive. On that drive, that’s often when I become very creative and have new ideas.
What are some of the small luxuries in your life?
Time with my family, friends, my girlfriend, my dog—these are what I value the most.
How do you unwind after a long weekend of racing?
Playing the piano, playing chess, spending time with my family, friends and loved ones. And in the case of celebration, having a glass of Chivas with the whole team—that’s also important.
How are you feeling about Chivas Regal Crystalgold being out in the world?
I’m super excited. It was a product I’d heard about for quite a while, and to finally have it on the market and showcase it to the world is very special. There’s a lot of innovation that went into it, and it’s come from a brand with such rich history like Chivas. It’s inspiring to see how they’ve done something so unexpected, and how brilliant the end result is.
What is the Charles-approved way to enjoy it? Neat, on the rocks, or cocktail mode?
Probably in cocktail form. When I was in Scotland at the beginning of the year, we made the “Leclerc Spritz” with elderflower, lime, and a few other ingredients—it’s really, really nice.
What do you love most about coming to Melbourne every year?
I love Melbourne, I love Australia. I’ve never been a big fan of the track for whatever reason, but I’m so incredibly happy whenever I go there, and I always try to bring some of my family for them to discover Australia.
There’s just an energy in Melbourne. Everybody’s smiling so much, and I think that makes a huge difference. I just feel good whenever I’m in Melbourne, mostly because the people are so incredibly nice.
Pick one: Melbourne cafes or Singapore street food?
I didn’t try the Singapore street food—I’ll do it one day. So for now, Melbourne cafes!