Is Charles Leclerc cursed in Monaco?
The first Monegasque to win a Grand Prix in Formula 1, Charles Leclerc could become the first driver from the Principality to win the world title. To return to Max Verstappen, current leader, the Ferrari driver will have to shine in these streets which he knows so well this weekend, has chosen that he has never managed to do with a single-seater.
Some great Formula 1 drivers sometimes find it difficult to shine on their land. The immense Ayrton Senna had to wait seven years to win at home in Brazil, the Spaniard Fernando Alonso waited until 2006 and his sixth season in F1 to climb on the top step of the podium of his national Grand Prix. Slowly but surely, Charles Leclerc is making a place for himself among these talented drivers who are struggling to perform on their home soil. Rolling in the streets of Monaco since 2017 and his Formula 2 title, Charles Leclerc has never shined on the legendary Monaco Grand Prix. Between mechanical breakage and collision, he hopes to ward off bad luck this weekend.
Largely dominating for his first season in Formula 2, the antechamber of F1, Charles Leclerc arrives in Monaco having won all the pole positions and won two courses since the start of the season. The Monegasque continues on his 100% in qualifying by achieving a perfect lap. But in the race, while he is still in the game to win, the electronics of his Prema let him go and force him to return to the garage. A first misadventure that will call others. During the second race of the Monegasque round, Leclerc this time fell victim to a suspension problem. There too, abandonment is essential.
Despite his Monegasque adventures in F2, Charles Leclerc won the title hands down and signed with Sauber for the 2018 Formula 1 season. If his car did not allow him to play the leading roles, he was for the first time in a position to complete Grand Prix son. But just eight laps from the checkered flag, while he was chasing New Zealander Brendon Hartley, his brakes let him loose in the new chicane, near the port. Leclerc shoots straight and rips off the back of the unfortunate Hartley’s car. New premature end of race.
2019: new hanging, new abandonment
New season, new car and new possibilities. Just promoted at Ferrari, Leclerc has all the cards in hand to play elbows with Red Bull and Mercedes up front. With his Ferrari, he set the fastest time in the third session of free practice. But a strategic error by the Scuderia during qualifying took him out in Q1. He only starts 16th on the grid.
Rising to 12th place during the race, the “Little Prince” is at the prize with Nico Hülkenberg to get closer to the points. On the attack in the Rascasse corner, the door closes abruptly for the Monegasque, who clashes with the German driver of the Renault. One of his rear wheels being punctured, he had to pit. He will give up a little later in the Grand Prix, the fault of too much damage.
The “No, no, no” emitted by Charles Leclerc’s radio during the formation lap of the Monaco GP 2022 edition still resounds in the long tunnel along the Mediterranean. While he had the perfect weekend after taking pole position the day before, Leclerc did not start his Grand Prix due to a damaged gearbox the day before after an accident at the end of qualifying. He will not have the opportunity to position his single-seater struck from the prancing horse in the front row. Head to the pits even before the start of the race.
Far from the stress of the Formula 1 world championship, which he started with a bang with two victories, Charles Leclerc is having a good time in his Principality by taking the start of the historic Grand Prix, organized every year with vintage single-seaters. Ferrari driver obliges, Leclerc is catapulted at the wheel of the Scuderia of 1974 driven by the triple world champion Niki Lauda (1975, 1977 and 1984). As in 2019, the Rascasse bend is fatal to the Monegasque, who loses his brakes and rushes into the rail. The damaged collector’s car, “Perceval” comes out of the bucket disoriented and is immediately reassured by another F1 legend: Jacky Ickx.
After so many misadventures on his land, Charles Leclerc is determined to ward off bad luck this weekend in the narrow streets of Le Rocher. With one of the best-performing cars on the grid and substantial confidence after a solid start to the season, Leclerc can believe in it. And, quite rare, the rain could come to the Principality on Sunday… like during the 1991 Brazilian Grand Prix, where Senna finally triumphed in front of his family.