Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc won the restarted Monaco Grand Prix from pole position on Sunday for his first Formula 1 victory in nearly two years. (More Sports News)
Leclerc was on pole for the third time in four years, but had previously never finished on the podium at his home race. His first win since Austria in July 2022 took his career tally to six, all with Ferrari.
바카라Tonight's going to be a big night,바카라 he told his team over the radio.
A Monaco victory felt extra special for him, having grown up in a flat overlooking the start-finish line watching cars zooming past below.
바카라No words can explain that. It was the race that made me want to be a Formula 1 driver one day," the 26-year-old Leclerc said.
바카라Seeing so many of my friends on the balcony, so many people I know. It means a huge amount to me.바카라
The last 15 laps were the most difficult as the realisation of how much winning would mean dawned on him.
바카라I must say I was thinking about my dad,바카라 Leclerc said of his late father.
바카라It was a dream of ours for me to race here and win, so it's unbelievable.바카라
Championship leader Max Verstappen started and finished sixth for Red Bull, whose other driver Sergio Perez went out of the race after a big first-lap crash.
The crash also took out Haas drivers Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg, and caused it to be interrupted by a red flag for 40 minutes. The drivers were not hurt.
The race restarted on Lap 3 of 78 and the drivers pulled away cleanly but slowly, with Leclerc managing his tires on a track notoriously difficult for overtaking.
Leclerc finished about 8 seconds ahead of McLaren's Oscar Piastri and 9 seconds clear of Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz Jr. in third.
McLaren's Lando Norris was fourth and Mercedes driver George Russell held off Verstappen to take fifth place.
Seven-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton was seventh, with Yuki Tsunoda (Racing Bulls), Alex Albon (Williams) and Pierre Gasly (Alpine) completing the top 10. It was the same order as the starting grid, reflecting Monaco's reputation as the hardest track to overtake in F1.
바카라The pace at the beginning was incredibly slow,바카라 Piastri said.
바카라But it's been a great weekend for the team.바카라
All of the drama came at the start.
Perez's right rear wheel was clipped by the front left tire of Magnussen behind him and put Perez into the crash barrier. Perez's car almost split in half and also sent Hulkenberg's Haas spinning as he followed behind.
A red flag came out with debris littering the track to allow Perez's mangled Red Bull to be cleared away by a crane. The Mexican driver walked back accompanied by two race marshals. His team said he did not need medical checks.
Then, two Alpines tangled near the tunnel with Esteban Ocon's front nose sending teammate Pierre Gasly's car up in the air. With other cars just behind and the tunnel approaching, a serious accident was avoided. Ocon will serve a five-place grid penalty at the next race, the Canada GP on June 9.
바카라Today's incident was my fault,바카라 Ocon said.
바카라The gap was too small in the end.바카라
Governing body FIA ordered a standing restart with Leclerc in pole ahead of Piastri and Sainz going from third, despite puncturing moments after the start. He was trying to pass Piastri and had to use a run-off area at Casino Square.
French soccer star Kylian Mbappé and FIFA president Gianni Infantino were among the guests enjoying the bright sunshine.
But the race proved a processional affair.
Following the restart, cars trundled around the 3.3-kilometer (2-mile) narrow street circuit as Leclerc seemed determined to make his tires last until the end.
Piastri sat on his tail, and by the halfway point he was around 1 second behind, but Leclerc picked up the pace.
바카라To be honest Charles has been mega all weekend,바카라 Piastri said.
바카라It probably would have taken the best lap of my life (in qualifying). I'm happy with P2.바카라
There was not much action to entertain fans, some of whom spent thousands on VIP tickets.
Lance Stroll's left tire came off as he entered the pit lane on lap 50, but little else happened as Leclerc gradually extended his lead and ended his barren run.
바카라It's just impossible to get past on the streets of Monaco,바카라 Sainz said.
바카라But I'm very happy for Charles.바카라
