A spectacular first lap (a blistering 160 mph, the drivers fortunately uninjured, a 40-minute delay) and then utter tedium. That was the 2024 Monaco Grand Prix in which Charles Leclerc overcame the voodoo of it to win on his home tarmac.
For Max Verstappen, the world champion stranded in sixth place, the monotony was too much. ‘Fuck me!’ he exclaimed. This is really boring. I should have brought my pillow.
Fair point, the top 10 on the grid finished in the same order they started. Another bad day for the image of Monaco’s top competition, on a track too small for today’s big and heavy cars.
But for Leclerc, the joy of becoming the second Monegasque to win here. The only other was Louis Chiron in 1931. That feat in a Bugatti earned him a poolside bust, just as Leclerc might one day be immortalized. Before that, he heads up to Grimaldi Palace for the post-race dinner with Prince Albert, a tradition here, like the processional meal.
What a day for 26-year-old Leclerc, a good lad whose supportive father, Hervé, died in 2017, aged 54. He ran an automobile parts factory; Charles’s mother, Pascale, is a hairdresser. They are the kind of people from Monaco who serve the rich.
Charles Leclerc finally won the Monaco Grand Prix for Ferrari in front of his home crowd
Leclerc finished first, McLaren’s Oscar Piastri (left) second and Carlos Sainz (right) third.
Leclerc failed to win at Monaco the previous two times he took pole position at the circuit, but it was the third time charm for the Ferrari star in his first victory since the 2022 season.
The Monegasque driver enjoyed a comfortable start, starting from pole and crossing the checkered line in first place, comfortably managing the pace throughout the race.
Leclerc jumped into the crowd where his team staff were waiting to celebrate with him.
Leclerc displayed the Monaco flag as he celebrated a memorable victory on Sunday.
Twice I had achieved pole position here, but I had not even been on the podium. This time he was calmly in charge.
In reality, all he had to do was keep his Ferrari out of the barriers. No one could pass him if he managed it, not on this narrow stretch of asphalt. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri hounded him to the end to take second place, with Carlos Sainz third in the other scarlet car.
The die was cast by the drama of the first lap, which caused a red flag. All competitors could put their shoes back on, and then it was a matter of taking care of their rubber at home, even if it was like a snail. At one point, Leclerc was told to “slow down.” What an accusation!
Pirelli, the tire suppliers, are not exempt from blame. Yes, they made the three softest tire compounds available for Monaco’s slow corners, but they were still too durable, and the leaders, among others, circumnavigated the 2.1-mile track 77 out of 78 times without needing to stop. again.
By then, the theater was over and Sergio Perez had emerged unscathed from the 160 mph crash that made hearts skip a beat.
The Mexican, who started 16th, was touched by Kevin Magnussen’s Haas uphill after the first corner, Sainte Devote. The Dane’s left front hit Pérez’s right rear, sending the latter into the barriers.
Perez then joined innocent Nico Hulkenberg’s other Haas in a dramatic pinball action that led to a stoppage while the debris was cleared.
Pérez’s Red Bull was practically destroyed. Only the right rear tires remained in place. The monocoque, in homage to the safety pioneers, protected the driver from harm. They all came out without obvious injuries.
Albert II, Prince of Monaco (right), was delighted that local driver Leclerc won the race.
Sergio Pérez’s car was destroyed after an accident on the first lap involving both Haas drivers
Debris was sent around the circuit following the accident which began due to a collision between Perez and Kevin Magnussen.
A red flag was waved following the accident in a dramatic start to the Grand Prix.
Magnussen had been enthusiastic, making his way inside before running out of space. “They just pushed me against the wall and I came into contact with him,” Magnussen said.
‘I trusted that he was going to leave me space since he was there.
“You have to be the width of a car, otherwise you don’t leave the guy a choice.” “It’s unfortunate – a big cost to the team, a lot of work for the guys and a missed opportunity today.”
The stewards took no action, and rightly so, given that the incident occurred in the first lap, where the officials are trying to show more leniency.
The decision was a relief for Magnussen, who would have received a race suspension if he had been given two more points on his super license, after having added 10.
Max Verstappen endured a miserable afternoon as he finished sixth and was trapped behind George Russell.
In another turn, the two Alpines clashed. Esteban Ocon, who pushed himself when entering the tunnel and left Pierre Gasly with no space, was sent flying by the impact. He landed safely, but his car was damaged.
‘What did he do?’ —Gasly asked. ‘Why did he try to attack me? Oh my God. The whole car is damaged now!’
The stewards gave Ocon a 10-second penalty for the unnecessary movement, but he was already out of the race and by then had put on his jeans. His punishment will become a drop of five places on the starting grid for the next race, in Canada.
In the end, Verstappen has a 32-point lead over Leclerc with 16 rounds remaining.