By Michael Madyira
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc beat Oscar Piastri of McLaren to claim the Monaco Grand Prix in front of a delighted home crowd.
Starting from pole position, Leclerc converted that into victory while his Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz finished third.
Lando Norris came fourth on a day where Red Bull’s Max Verstappen was disappointing in sixth place.
Leclerc led from start to finish in a race which started with a major first-lap pile-up following a collision between Red Bull’s Sergio Perez and two Haas cars of Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg.
All three were unhurt but went out of the race following the huge high-speed crash.
It was Leclerc’s first win since July 2022 and he gave the home crowd something to cheer about when he romped home as Paris Saint Germain star Kylian Mbappe waved the chequered flag.
“No words can explain that,” Leclerc said after the race as per Sky Sports.
“It’s such a difficult race, I think the fact twice I’ve been starting on pole position and we couldn’t quite make it makes it even better in a way.”
“It means a lot, obviously. It’s the race which made me dream of becoming a Formula 1 driver one day.”
“Fifteen laps to the end you’re hoping nothing happens and the emotions are coming.”
The emotional Monacan paid tribute to his father.
“My dad has given everything for me to be here and it was a dream of ours for me to race here and win here, so it’s unbelievable,” he said.
Following two podium finishes by Ferrari, they are now 24 points behind Red Bull after eight rounds.
Pictured above: Charles Leclerc celebrating winning the Monaco Grand Prix
Image source: Formula 1
