After a series of failed attempts in both Formula 2 and Formula 1, due to bad luck and strategic errors, Charles Leclerc finally fulfills his childhood dream on May 26, 2024. He wins the Monaco Grand Prix, his birthplace, and celebrates with a long primal scream over the radio. “Finally.”
Charles Leclerc’s thoughts after ‘the most beautiful victory of his career’ were often directed towards his father Hervé, who died in 2017 after a long battle with cancer. Together they had a dream, that son Charles would one day receive the Formula 1 winner’s trophy from the prince. “Fifteen laps from the end, all the emotions started to surface,” admits Leclerc. “I thought about my father much more than I had expected. He gave everything for me, it was our dream to race and win here. This Grand Prix was where my dream of becoming a Formula 1 driver began.”
After countless unsuccessful attempts, the Monegasque finally gets the job done. “I will bring it home”, he exclaims euphorically over the radio five laps from the end. After a race in which he has total control at the front, he easily pulls away from pursuer Piastri in the final phase. “It all seems easy, but this is a tough race. Especially when you have to drive 78 laps on the same tire and with a restart,” says Leclerc. “Having a double start makes the victory even more beautiful. This means a lot to me with all those fans in the stands. I know so many people here, saw all familiar faces and friends on the balconies.” Finally, Prince Albert, a good friend of Leclerc, gets his dream winner.
For Piastri, the second place remains, for Leclerc’s teammate Carlos Sainz the third. “A great weekend,” believes the Australian in the service of McLaren. “There is no better place on the podium than in Monaco. I’m happy with it. Maybe we could have beaten Charles in qualifying on Saturday, but then I would have had to drive the best lap of my life. He was just mega good this weekend.” Words that Sainz fully agrees with. The Spaniard declares he is ‘very happy for Charles’. “Everyone on the team deserves this. And it seems like we’re getting stronger every race.”
