Charles Leclerc, with evident excitement, finished the race 7.1 seconds ahead of Oscar Piastri, winning his first-ever race at Monaco. He managed to maintain his lead despite challenges from Piastri and strategic moves from McLaren.
Leclerc faced pressure from Piastri throughout the race but managed to stay ahead. In the final laps, he increased his lead to over eight seconds before easing off to secure the win. Reflecting on his victory, Leclerc expressed his emotions, especially considering his past experiences at Monaco.
He said, “No words can explain that. It’s such a difficult race. Twice I’ve been starting on pole and I couldn’t make it, so this feels great.” Leclerc dedicated his win to his father and revealed that he was constantly thinking about him during the race.
The race started with a collision between Kevin Magnussen and Sergio Perez, causing a red flag and significant damage to Perez’s car. Carlos Sainz also suffered a puncture early on but was reinstated to his grid position after the restart.
The race dynamics changed as teams strategized around tire changes. Leclerc was tasked with controlling the pace to prevent McLaren from gaining an advantage with a pit stop. As the laps progressed, McLaren’s chances dwindled, and Leclerc seized the opportunity to secure his win.
Despite facing pressure from Max Verstappen, George Russell held onto fifth place. Lewis Hamilton retained seventh after a pit stop, and Yuki Tsunoda secured eighth, with Williams’ Alex Albon close behind. Pierre Gasly claimed the final point despite a first-lap incident with his Alpine teammate Esteban Ocon, who retired from the race due to the collision.
