Light's out, and away we go!
After a long, restless pause in the 2026 Formula 1 season, fans looking for their next hit of competition might not need a circuit at all. Instead, the action has shifted to the tabletop, where strategy, timing and nerve still matter just as much.
In a surprising but neatly fitting crossover, Charles Leclerc has teamed up with Chivas Regal to launch a campaign built around a custom board game, blending the worlds of motorsport and social play.
A game of speed, strategy…and whisky
The campaign revolves around “SE!ZE”, a custom-designed board game built around the idea of seizing opportunity under pressure. The name comes from the French word for sixteen, linking directly to Leclerc’s racing number and the wider identity of the project.
Unlike a typical branded novelty, SE!ZE was developed with professional games designer James Wallis, giving it a structured, strategy-led foundation rather than a purely promotional feel. The intention is to mirror the mental rhythm of Formula 1: rapid decisions, shifting momentum, and the constant balancing of risk versus reward.
The game is also closely tied to the creation of Chivas Regal 16, a new whisky expression co-developed with master blender Sandy Hyslop. Both the drink and the game sit under the same creative idea; what the brand calls a pursuit of mastery through continuous improvement and precision.
While full gameplay details remain tightly controlled, the concept is described as fast-moving and competitive, designed to reflect the split-second thinking that defines Leclerc’s approach on track. The experience is less about luck and more about reading situations, anticipating opponents and striking at the right moment.
From Monaco to the living room
For fans still adjusting to the 2026 mid-season break, it’s not the only way to scratch the racing itch. The wider board game world has long leaned into Formula 1’s tension and strategy.
Games such as Racing Line focus heavily on precision and race-craft, asking players to manage positioning, braking zones and clean overtakes in a way that closely mirrors real circuit decision-making. Downforce continues to stand out for its blend of betting mechanics and tactical overtakes, while lighter themed releases like the UNO Formula 1 Card Game offer a more casual nod to the sport’s branding and rivalry.
SE!ZE, however, sits in a slightly different space. Rather than simulating a full race, it focuses on decision-making under pressure; the same mindset that separates a clean overtake from a costly mistake in real racing.
The bigger picture within Formula 1
What makes this campaign stand out is how closely it aligns with Formula 1 itself. Even during a break in the 2026 season, the sport’s core appeal doesn’t disappear. It simply shifts environments.
By turning racing psychology into a structured game, Chivas Regal and Leclerc are effectively reframing competition as something that extends beyond the track. It becomes less about the car and more about the mindset behind the wheel.
And in a season where fans are temporarily without Grand Prix weekends, that idea feels particularly timely. The lights may be off on the circuit for now, but the competitive instinct is still very much in play, just on a different board.
