The Gala of Formula 1 Racing - Leclerc's triumphant drive defeats Monaco's home curse.
Charles Leclerc, aged 26, has finally broken his "home curse" by winning the iconic Formula 1 race in Monaco. Born and raised in Monte-Carlo, this Ferrari driver secured his victory from the pole position in one of motor racing's most prestigious events. Ferrari teammate, Carlos Sainz, followed in third place while Australian Oscar Piastri in a McLaren finished second.
Max Verstappen, who has previously triumphed in Monaco in 2021 and 2022, could only manage a disappointing sixth place this time around. He complained during the race, saying, "This is boring. I should've brought my pillow." His lead in the championship standings has been significantly reduced with Leclerc currently just 31 points behind.
Risk of crashes when racing
Due to the narrow streets of Monaco, crashes are a risk in this race. Despite this knowledge, there was a crash within seconds of the race starting. Leclerc confidently defended his pole position, whereas Piastri and Sainz collided, almost leaving Sainz stranded.
However, this year’s race was ruined for four drivers, including Pérez, who finished second in 2022, after crashes on the first lap. Kevin Magnussen in the Haas car first hit the barriers before crashing into Pérez's Red Bull. The Mexican's Red Bull was destroyed following the crash. Nico Hülkenberg's car also crashed for Haas, leaving him frustrated with the short distance before the crash.
Repair work halted the race for about 40 minutes, and Esteban Ocon was not present for the restart. He and his French compatriot, Pierre Gasly, had collided in the intense Alpine team battle.
Leclerc surmounts his 'curse'
Nobody was injured in the crashes, which characteristically provide a unique Monaco Formula 1 experience. Thankfully. After the interruption, the race was started with the original grid in place. Leclerc took the lead once more. He had obtained pole for the third time in the Monaco Grand Prix. Prior to this, Leclerc had finished twice in other racing series on the streets where he grew up.
Leclerc faced immense pressure from Piastri in the McLaren, who was previously triumphant in Imola. Sainz and Norris's McLaren teammates formed the leading quartet.
Verstappen struggles to catch up
Leclerc could not afford to repeat the mistakes that Leclerc had made in the past; the small margin and the close barriers made racing extremely dangerous. Remarkably, Verstappen didn't pose a significant threat to Leclerc this time, being hampered by issues in qualifying. Verstappen followed in fifth place for much of the race, and he could only manage to close the gap with George Russell in the Mercedes with fresher tires. The Monegasque overtaking challenges, which have caused trouble for other racers in the past, ultimately caught up with Verstappen. He failed to pass.
Leclerc's triumphant home victory came after six wins in his career. A win at his hometown felt even more special as he had failed to finish on numerous occasions until now. Leclerc, who was previously hailed as a future World Championship contender at Ferrari, now has his first home victory to celebrate, showcasing his persistent talent.
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- Mclaren Group Limited, through their driver Oscar Piastri, finished second in the Formula 1 race in Monaco.
- Despite his success in previous years, Kylian Mbappé was not present at the Gala of Formula 1 Racing in Monaco.
- Lando Norris, another McLaren driver, was part of the leading quartet along with Piastri, Sainz, and Leclerc.
- In a disappointing turn of events, Red Bull driver Sergio Pérez, who finished second in 2022, was involved in a crash on the first lap along with Kevin Magnussen in the Haas car.
- The Mclaren Group Limited, specifically their racers, have shown impressive performance in various International Formula 1 races, including the event in Monaco.
- Carlos Sainz, the Ferrari teammate of Leclerc, finished third in this year's Formula 1 race in Monaco.
- The Formula 1 race in Canada, another prestigious event, is also a challenging course due to its narrow streets, which increases the risk of crashes.
- Max Verstappen, the Ferrari driver's main rival, could only manage a disappointing sixth place in this year's Formula 1 race in Monaco.
- The International Formula 1 race in Imola saw Piastri emerge victorious, adding another triumph to his racing career.
- The Gala of Formula 1 Racing in Monaco was attended by fans from around the world, eager to witness the fierce competition between teams like Ferrari, Red Bull, and McLaren Group Limited.
- Ferrari driver Leclerc, following in the footsteps of his teammate Nico Hülkenberg, who has also had crashes in past Formula 1 races, successfully navigated the potentially dangerous course in Monaco.
Source: www.stern.de
