Leclerc finally breaks the Monaco curse: 2024 Monaco Grand Prix Review

Ferrari Driver Charles Leclerc broke his winless streak at the Monaco Grand Prix with his last win being the 2022 Austrian Grand Prix.

Leclerc became the first Monégasque driver since Louis Chiron in 1931 to win his home Grand Prix, and the first Monégasque driver to win the Monaco Grand Prix as a Formula One World Championship event.

Free Practice

During the three Free Practice sessions, the team that looked very promising was Mercedes, with Lewis Hamilton finishing in the top 3 in all practice sessions. Evidently, the Red Bulls were lacking pace, opening up opportunities for other teams like Ferrari, McLaren, and Mercedes.

In the opening free practice session for the Monaco Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton set the pace for Mercedes, with McLaren's Oscar Piastri close behind, followed by Hamilton's teammate George Russell. The session saw a brief interruption due to debris on Turn 1, caused by Zhou Guanyu's Sauber making contact with the wall.

Later in the day, Charles Leclerc impressed for Ferrari in the second free practice session, with Hamilton and Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin trailing behind.

In the third practice session, Leclerc continued to dominate, leading the timesheets once again, followed by Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing and Hamilton. However, the session was halted when Valtteri Bottas's Sauber collided with the wall at the swimming pool section, resulting in suspension damage for the Finn and a red flag.

Qualifying

Charles Leclerc took his 24th pole position and Ferrari’s 250th pole position on Saturday with a time of 1:10.270, ahead of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and teammate Carlos Sainz.

Fernando Alonso and Sergio Perez faced a tough setback in qualifying for the Monaco Grand Prix as they were both eliminated in Q1. Alonso would start from 14th on the grid, while Perez would line up in 16th position.

In the following session, Q2, the 2018 race winner Daniel Ricciardo suffered a disappointing exit, along with both Haas drivers. However, the Haas duo faced additional drama as they were disqualified from the session due to a technical infringement related to their DRS systems. Despite this setback, they were granted permission by the race director to take the grid, starting from the 19th and 20th. Yuki Tsunoda's impressive form persisted as he secured a spot in Q3 for yet another race, making his 6th Q3 appearance of the season. Pierre Gasly for Alpine and Alex Albon for Williams joined him in the final qualifying session, marking a notable achievement for both teams.

As Q3 unfolded, Charles Leclerc emerged as the frontrunner for the pole position, showcasing an impressive pace throughout the session. Meanwhile, championship leader Max Verstappen faced challenges with his car, describing it as slippery and struggling to find the optimal grip.

However, as the session reached its climax, a pivotal moment occurred when Verstappen brushed the wall at the exit of Turn 1, forcing him to abandon his flying lap. With Verstappen out of contention, the battle for pole intensified between Ferrari and McLaren.

In the end, it was Charles Leclerc who clinched pole position with a commanding final sector, asserting Ferrari's dominance. Behind him, Oscar Piastri of McLaren secured a strong position on the grid, setting the stage for an exciting race between the two powerhouse teams.

Race

The start of the Monaco Grand Prix encountered an early setback as a dramatic crash on lap 1 involving Sergio Pérez, Nico Hülkenberg, and Kevin Magnussen led to a red flag situation. The collision resulted in all three drivers retiring and caused significant damage to the barriers, scattering debris across the initial corners of the track.

Adding to the chaos, as the Alpines navigated the Portier section, Esteban Ocon inadvertently squeezed Pierre Gasly's path, causing Ocon's car to launch upward. Ocon, acknowledging his role in the incident, retired during the red flag period. Amidst the unfolding drama, Carlos Sainz encountered a moment of turmoil as he ran wide following contact with a McLaren. However, the red flag provided a lifeline as he was able to restart from his initial grid position.

During the red flag phase, most drivers changed their tyres, fulfilling the requirement to use at least two different tyre compounds during a race. This strategic move gave them a free pit stop. Given that Monaco is a circuit that is not too hard on the tyres, this change means they likely won’t need to pit again for fresh rubber, allowing them to maintain their positions more effectively.

The second restart saw a more cautious approach from all drivers, with Charles Leclerc leading the pack closely pursued by Oscar Piastri. Further down the field, Sainz and Norris engaged in a tight battle for position.

As the race progressed, Aston Martin adopted a similar strategy to Haas from previous races. Fernando Alonso played a pivotal role in backing up the pack to create a gap behind his teammate Lance Stroll. However, the plan backfired when Stroll suffered a puncture on his new soft tyre.

Monaco has been infamous lately for its lack of overtakes, and the 2024 race didn't help the venue's case. The race saw very few overtakes, courtesy of Valtteri Bottas, Lance Stroll, and Logan Sargent at the back of the field.

At the end of the 78 laps, Charles Leclerc clinched victory at his home Grand Prix, delighting the Tifosi and his home crowd with a spectacular performance. It was an emotional win for Leclerc, securing the top step of the podium in front of his adoring fans. Oscar Piastri also made a mark, securing a podium finish at Monaco in only his second Formula 1 season, a remarkable achievement for the young driver. Completing the Ferrari dominance, Carlos Sainz crossed the line to secure a Ferrari 1-3 podium finish, capping off a fantastic day for the Italian team.

As the Formula 1 season progresses, all eyes turn to the upcoming Canadian Grand Prix at the iconic Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal. After facing challenges in the previous race, Red Bull Racing will be eager to reclaim its former dominance. With the championship battle heating up, fans can expect an exhilarating weekend of racing action as the teams and drivers vie for glory on Canadian soil.

Championship Standings after the race: