Formula One driver Charles Leclerc has asked fans to stay away from his apartment, saying “I won’t be coming downstairs if you visit my home”.
The Ferrari driver’s Monaco address was leaked online and since then fans have been turning up hoping for a photo.
“For the past few months my home address has somehow become public, leading to people gathering beneath my apartment, ringing my bell and asking for pictures and autographs,” Leclerc wrote on Instagram.
“While I’m always happy to be there for you and truly appreciate your support, please respect my privacy and refrain from coming to my house.”
Leclerc, who has won five races for Ferrari and taken 18 pole positions, said he will always stop for autographs and photos from fans in the street.
But he said he will no longer respond if fans come to his door.
“I won’t be coming downstairs if you visit my home,” he wrote.
“Your support, both in person and on social media, means the world to me, but there is a boundary that should not be crossed.”
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The 25-year-old had an exclusive watch stolen a year ago in Italy when two people wearing scooter helmets approached him for a selfie.
Italian police said last week they had arrested four people wanted in connection with the theft of the watch, which carried his initials and was potentially worth millions.
Leclerc finished second overall in the F1 championship last year but was far behind runaway winner Max Verstappen.
He has had a tough start to this season, failing to finish two of the three races and scoring only six points to put him 10th in the standings.
