Sunday Debrief: 6th time lucky for Leclerc at his home race.

On his sixth time asking, Leclerc took victory for the first time at his home race, in front of adoring home fans, Leclerc also picking up the fans driver of the day.

 

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Qualifying

 

It was a dream qualifying for Leclerc in Monaco, the Monegasque securing pole position for Sundays Grand Prix at his home race. It was a tight battle between the McLaren’s and Ferrari’s for the front two rows, Piastri slotting himself between the two Ferrari drivers, in P2 on the front row, Norris completing the second row behind his former teammate at McLaren, Carlos Sainz.

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It was a tricky qualifying for the two Red Bull drivers, neither driver putting on the pressure on that we have come to expect from the pair. Perez had an early exit from qualifying, after he failed to make it out of Q3 for the first time this season. Verstappen, who has won the previous two races in Monaco, hit the wall on his final shot at securing pole in Q3, only qualifying in P6 between the two Mercedes, Verstappen not managing to break the record of Ayrton Senna of 8 consecutive pole positions.

 

It was a forgettable qualifying for Haas, who had both their drivers disqualified from qualifying after failing the post quail inspection. Both drivers would start from the pit lane for Sunday’s race.

 

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Race:

It was a puncture for Sainz in the first few corners, as Sainz battles it out with Piastri, Sainz wobbling his way back to the pits, before up the road, an incident between Hulkenberg, Magnussen and Perez brought out the red flag. Perez going into the barriers and the two Haas drivers being tagged out in the process, the trio becoming the first three retirements of the race. Perez’s’ car in obliterated in a monstrous crash.

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Approaching the Monaco tunnel on the opening lap, the two Alpine’s made contact, Ocon taking a lunge at his teammate, sending Ocon up into the air, causing damage to the floor of his Alpine on the opening lap, making him the fourth retirement of the race. Ocon punished for the incident, was handed a 5-place grid drop for the upcoming race in Montreal.

 

At the restart it was a standing start, all drivers returning to the position they started the race in. Sainz benefiting, as the Ferrari drivers got the Spaniards car back in good shape to resume in the race. The race resuming on lap 3 with 4 cars out of the race. All cars making it out of the first lap of the restart unscathed.

 

Stroll was the second to face a puncture in the race on Lap 50, Stroll who was running just outside the points, pitted on lap 50 following a puncture, his left rear coming off and sitting on the side of the track, but Stroll was able to get himself safely back into the pits.

 

Hamilton was the first of the top 10 runners to enter the pit since the restart on lap 52, the cars ahead yet to pit. Hamilton pitting and keeping his place with a comfortable gap between himself and Tsunoda behind. Verstappen pitting a lap later and keeping his place ahead of Hamilton by two seconds.

 

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After 6 seasons in the sport, 2 DNF’s, a DNS, a P4 and P6 finish, having never stepped on the podium at his home race, on his sixth time asking, Charles Leclerc took victory at his home race, stepping on his home podium for the first time. Leclerc leading 78/78 laps, comfortably holding off Piastri from start to finish. The top 3 remaining the same top 3 as qualifying, at a track where qualifying means everything. Piastri finishing P2 followed by Sainz in a unforgettable day for Leclerc.