LeClerc makes Monaco History
Charles Marc Hervé Perceval Leclerc is a name that will forever be etched in the history of the Monaco Grand Prix. He became the first Monegasque driver to claim victory on his home turf since the legendary Louis Chiron in 1931. This win is not just a personal triumph for Leclerc but also a significant moment for Monaco, a race that has been a part of the official FIA Formula 1 championship since its inaugural season in 1950. Monaco, one of the four races on the current F1 calendar that was part of the inaugural season of F1, has a rich history in the sport, with only Monza having hosted more F1 races than this iconic street circuit.
Monaco has been heartbreaking for Leclerc since he debuted in 2018 with Alfa Romeo, where he had a late race brake failure, causing a collision and a DNF.
In 2019, Leclerc made his first Monaco GP with Ferrari. He was knocked out of Q1 and started sixteenth on the grid. After charging through the field during the race, he tapped the wall in Rascasse, leading to a tire puncture and a second DNF in his home Grand Prix.
2020 Monaco was canceled due to the pandemic.
In 2021, LeClerc started the Monaco GP on Pole but suffered a gearbox issue on the formation lap and could not even start, leaving him with a heartbreaking DNS (Did Not Start).
It looked like things were going to change for LeClerc in 2022. Starting the race again on Pole as the rain set in during the GP, a mishap in the pits led Charles to lose multiple positions and finish the race in sixth position.
During the 2023 Monaco GP, Leclerc qualified third but was given a three-place grid penalty for impeding Lando Norris in Q3. Leclerc started in sixth place and finished the race in fourth.
Fred Vasseur, Oscar Piastri, Charles LeClerc Monaco podium
This home victory for Charles was extremely sentimental, not only for his country but also for the close family connections to the location as well. Charles grew up watching F1 on these same streets, and his father raced on these streets in Formula 3 in the 80s. Charles LeClerc has experienced a lot of loss; his father passed away right before he was promoted to F1, and his close family friend, former Formula 1 driver Jules Bianchi, scored his first points in Formula 1 at Monaco. LeClerc spoke about thinking of his father as he was finishing the last few laps of the Grand Prix. LeClerc snapped a 40-race winless drought, and I don’t think there's a better place than he would have picked to break it. This will go down as his favorite win in his F1 career.
About Monaco
Monaco, the second-smallest independent state in the world, has a history as rich as its culture. The opening of the Monte Carlo Casino in 1863 was a game-changer, marking a turning point in its history and transforming it into a major center for tourism and gambling. This move played a significant role in alleviating the principality's financial issues. The reign of Prince Rainier III, from 1949 to 2005, was a period of modernization for Monaco. He enhanced its infrastructure and promoted it as a luxury destination. The marriage of Prince Rainier III to American actress Grace Kelly in 1956 was a global event that brought unprecedented attention to Monaco and helped solidify its glamorous image. Albert II, Prince of Monaco, has been Monaco's head of state and chief since 2005. The current population of Monaco is 36,170.
LeClerc on the Podium with Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco.
