Charles Leclerc fulfilled the dream of winning the Monaco Grand Prix in his country with Ferrari and closed the gap with Verstappen

Charles Leclerc won for the first time Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix and was able to celebrate locally in the Principality. The third time was the charm for the pilot Ferrari He started two other opportunities from pole positions, but could not succeed. This Sunday the revenge came in a big way and he is the third driver to beat Max Verstappen and his Red Bull In the season.

At the beginning Leclerc, who had taken pole positions, started very well and maintained the lead. While in the second batch of the platoon the spectacular accident of Sergio “Checo” Pérez and the two pilots of Haas, Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hülkenberg. All three cars were destroyed. The race was neutralized with a red flag to clear the circuit.

After neutralization, Leclerc He started well again and stayed first followed by Oscar Piastri (McLaren), Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) and Lando Norris (McLaren). All four of them started with hard compound tires to delay entering the pits. The four of them marched together, but none of them attacked, knowing the limitations of running on a narrow, urban route without escape routes.

It was a chess game between Leclerc, Piastri, Sainz and Norris, since they were managing the consumption of rubber. When the leader accelerated, the Australian did the same and otherwise when he slowed down his pace. On lap 39 from the pits they told Leclerc “You can go slower if you want”, in a clear reference to taking better care of the tires.

Oscar Piastri was second in the Principality (REUTERS/Jennifer Lorenzini)

Meanwhile Verstappen, who was sixth, entered the pits on lap 53 to change his tires and they put the hard compound on him. The Dutchman had started with the medium tires.

The first four went to the end and their only stoppage with the tire change was at the start of the race neutralization. The expertise of the four made the tires last until the end beyond being the hard compound.

“It was a tough race. Twice before he had started ahead and could not win,” said Leclerc, who is the second Monegasque to win at home after 93 years, when he triumphed. Louis Chiron with a Bugatti in 1931, in the prequel to the Formula 1, when it was not yet a World Championship. At that time the races were already called Grand Prix.

“I thought about my dad the entire race since he made every effort to get me here and winning here was always our great dream,” confessed Charles, who remembered his father. The local runner was able to win in front of his team and reached his sixth victory in the Máxima after Belgium and Italy in 2019, and Bahrain, Australia and Austria in 2022. It gave Ferrari the second victory after the one achieved by Sainz in Australia.

Max Verstappen was sixth and continues to lead the championship (REUTERS/Jennifer Lorenzini)

On the Monegasque podium the winner was escorted by Piastri and Sainz. The top ten was completed by Lando Norris (McLaren), George Russell (Mercedes), Max Verstappen (Red Bull), Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), Yuki Tsunoda (Visa Cash App RB Formula One Team), Alex Albon (Williams) and Pierre Gasly (Alpine).

For the first time in seven years Ferrari won in Monaco. The last time was with Sebastian Vettelthe year that starred until the first half in the fight for the title against Lewis Hamiltonwho ended up taking his fourth crown.

Verstappen He was sixth and remains at the forefront of the championship, but remains alert in Red Bull before the advance of Ferrari and McLaren. The two teams already beat the Austrian squad this season.

The season will continue in two weeks and the great circus will return to North America. It will be Sunday, June 9, for the dispute of the Canadian Grand Prixin it Gilles Villeneuve Autodrome on the island of Notre-Dame, in Montreal. She will then return to Europe to continue her journey in the Old World.

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