Leclerc overcomes home track mishap, dominates Formula 1 race
At the start of the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Monaco, four drivers were eliminated, yet Charles Leclerc remained unfazed by a race disruption. He claimed his first victory in his hometown. World Champion Max Verstappen failed to make it to the podium.
The outcome seeming ordinary, Leclerc conquered the Monaco curse, winning his home race for the first time in his sixth attempt. Along the way, Leclerc added tension to the championship battle. For Verstappen and his Red Bull, the complicated street circuit was their "worst-case scenario," as the world champion was infuriated and could not advance beyond sixth place.
Monaco reaffirmed its status as a track where the thrilling qualifying on Saturday often leads to a tedious race on Sunday. Due to the sheer impossibility of overtaking in the tight pack, Leclerc transformed his pole position into a victory with ease.
Oscar Piastri on the McLaren and Carlos Sainz in the second Ferrari secured the remaining spots on the podium. Nico Hülkenberg was removed in the opening round without incident. An intriguing accident ended Hülkenberg's race.
In the world championship rankings, Verstappen holds a 31-point lead over Leclerc. A gap this small has not been observed since early April. After recent very close races, it was evident that Red Bull's woes with uneven tracks have worsened. "We're not perfect," said Verstappen, "we need to understand our limitations and address them."
For Leclerc, the focus was on the present. Since 2018, he has longed for a Monaco triumph, and he fell short in part due to an unusual circumstance. This weekend, Leclerc made an excellent showing in the early practice sessions, instilling great enthusiasm within his spirited followers in the stands - and endured under immense pressure in the intense qualifying.
Prior to the race, he enthusiastically waved to the crowd during the driver parade, "I just want to hop into the car and drive home," said Leclerc. As the red lights finally illuminated, he quickly disembarked.
At the start, Leclerc defended his lead, but chaos ensued behind him. Sainz tried to overtake Piastri in the first corner, but fell short - apparently sustaining damage in the process, as he slid directly ahead at the Casino.
At this juncture, Ferrari's strategic edge with two contenders at the front appeared to evaporate. However, further back, a significant crash occurred: Kevin Magnussen in the Haas struck Sergio Perez's Red Bull, resulting in Perez's collision with the barriers and the complete destruction of his vehicle. Both Haas cars were also impacted, and Hülkenberg's race was over. "I wasn't really involved and was eliminated anyway," he commented on Sky, "frustrating."
However, this collision proved fortuitous for Leclerc. Since a security car was deployed, Ferrari had Sainz ready for competition again, and Leclerc could switch from the medium to the hard tire compound without being concerned about strategic moves from his adversaries. Since the mandatory pit stop had already been completed, Leclerc could now race on the hard tires without fearing any strategic strategies from his opponents.
From this moment forward, it was all about Leclerc. He skillfully managed the race, conserved his tires, as Piastri unsuccessfully attempted to pass Leclerc on the constricted course. Leclerc's hardware had to remain functional, he needed to avoid mistakes - all of which transpired. The curse was banished.
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Source: www.ntv.de
