May 26, (THEWILL)- Charles Leclerc finally broke his Monaco curse by claiming an emotional first victory at his hometown Grand Prix on Sunday. The 26-year-old Monegasque driver became the first from the principality to win the iconic race since the world championship began in 1950.
Leclerc had a cruise on the streets he knows so well, finishing 7.152 seconds ahead of Oscar Piastri’s McLaren in second place. Carlos Sainz took third for Ferrari ahead of Lando Norris in the other McLaren. Red Bull had a weekend to forget, with Max Verstappen only sixth and Sergio Perez crashing out on lap one after a huge multi-car pile-up.
Fighting back tears after crossing the finish line, Leclerc said: “No words can explain it. To win the race that made me dream of becoming an F1 driver is unbelievable. I kept thinking of my dad who gave everything for me to be here.” His long-awaited home win ended a run of 12 pole positions without a victory.
The race had to be red-flagged and restarted after three separate incidents on a chaotic opening lap. As well as Perez’s heavy shunt, the two Haas cars tangled and the Alpines collided dramatically. Despite the early drama, the rest of the Grand Prix settled into a strategic battle over tyre management between the leading teams.
Leclerc’s triumph moves him within 31 points of championship leader Verstappen ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix in two weeks. For the first time in years, the title race is wide open heading into the season’s midpoint.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
