Christopher Fillocque, with AFP / Photo credits: Author / Source / Credit RYAN PIERSE / GETTY IMAGES EUROPE / Getty Images via AFP
All of Monaco was waiting for him, and he arrived: the Monegasque Charles Leclerc broke the curse by winning “his” national Grand Prix in Formula 1 on Sunday for the first time, a victory which had been denied to him since his debut in the elite, in 2018. Encouraged by banners “Daghe Charles!” (“Come on Charles!” in local patois) hanging from the balconies overlooking the urban layout, the local child is finally enjoying this success.
“I don’t have the words,” he reacted, very moved, upon arrival. “In the last 15 laps, the emotion was at its height, I thought of my father (who died in 2017, editor’s note), who gave everything for me to be here. He dreamed that I would race here and win, it ‘It’s incredible”.
Leclerc, the first Monegasque to win on the Rock in F1
Starting in pole position for “his” Grand Prix for the third time in his career in the elite, he finished ahead of Australian Oscar Piastri (McLaren) and his teammate at Ferrari, Spaniard Carlos Sainz. The third driver in history to represent Monaco in the elite, he is the first Monegasque to win on the Rock in F1. He won his sixth F1 GP in “his” streets. At the end of a generally insipid race.
Until now, in five participations, he had never done better than fourth place (in 2022) in Monaco. Worse: he systematically had to abandon between 2017 (when he was still in F2, the antechamber of F1) and 2021, after technical problems or collisions. Last year, he finished in a disappointing sixth place.
Anonymous Verstappen sixth
With this victory (his first of the season), Leclerc consolidates his second place in the championship standings (138 points), behind the Dutchman Max Verstappen (169 pts). Verstappen precisely. In the splendor of the streets of the Principality – and an audience of stars including Kylian Mbappé, just titled French champion with PSG -, the championship leader competed in an anonymous race. Starting sixth on the narrow street circuit, the three-time reigning world champion crossed the finish line in the same place.
From the first tests on Friday, the Dutchman was in trouble at the wheel of his powerful RB20, he who has already won five GPs this year. “We have tried many changes in recent days, but nothing has optimized the performance of the car,” regretted “Mad Max” on Saturday evening. He finished behind Britons Lando Norris (McLaren) and George Russell (Mercedes), fourth and fifth respectively.
As is often the case in the narrow streets of Monaco, there were not many overtakes. Thus, the Top 10 established during qualifying remained the same at the finish.
Eventful start, Esteban Ocon on the mat, a point for Pierre Gasly
Earlier in the afternoon, the race was interrupted only moments after the start due to an impressive collision involving Mexican Sergio Pérez – three of the four wheels of his Red Bull were torn off – and the Haas of Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg in the climb of Sainte-Dévote. The three drivers emerged from their car unscathed. Time to secure and clean up the debris, the race resumed around forty minutes later, with a standing start according to the order established during qualifying.
A decision that suited Sainz, who suffered a puncture shortly after the lights went out but was allowed to return to his initial position. The Alpine of Frenchmen Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon, 10th and 11th on the grid, also clashed during this eventful first start.
The second, found guilty of the accident by the race management, had to abandon his car having been too damaged. The Normand will be penalized by five places on the starting grid for the Canadian GP on June 9, the next round of the season. His teammate Pierre Gasly, 10th in the GP, still offers a point to his team, which has been in difficulty since the start of the season.