Charles Leclerc breaks the curse and wins the race – Libération

At the end of a race which began with an impressive crash, the 26-year-old Monegasque Charles Leclerc won the Monaco Grand Prix this Sunday, May 26, at the end of an overall insipid race.

Even the prince shed his little tear. Monaco was waiting for him, and he arrived: the Monegasque Charles Leclerc broke the curse by winning this Sunday, May 26 for the first time “his” national Grand Prix in Formula 1, 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 native was finally able to savor his 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 of me racing here and winning, it’s incredible,” added the Ferrari driver.

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. Third driver in history to represent Monaco in the elite, Charles Leclerc is the first Monegasque to win on the Rock in F1. He won his sixth F1 GP in “his” streets, a victory 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. Between 2017 and 2021, the driver had to systematically abandon his race in Monaco due to technical problems or collisions. Last year, he finished in a disappointing sixth place.

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) who also competed in an anonymous race. Starting sixth on the narrow street circuit leaving virtually no chance of overtaking, the three-time reigning world champion crossed the finish line in the same position. He finished behind Britons Lando Norris (McLaren) and George Russell (Mercedes), fourth and fifth respectively.

Despite the crash, the three pilots escaped unhurt

Earlier in the afternoon, the race was stopped only moments after the start. The cause: an impressive collision involving the Mexican Sergio Pérez – three of the four wheels of his Red Bull were torn off – and the Haas of Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hülkenberg on the climb to 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 Gasly, 10th in the GP, still offers a point to his team, which has been in difficulty since the start of the season.