STORY OF THE DAY: The Prince of Monaco

Charles Leclerc won the Monaco Grand Prix from pole position in the number 16 Ferrari SF-24, finally triumphing on the streets where he had grown up. He led Oscar Piastri and teammate Carlos Sainz across the finish line, securing Ferrari’s first Monaco victory since 2017 and adding an emotionally significant success to his World Championship campaign.

The race was stopped on the opening lap after a major accident involving Sergio Perez, Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg. The restart restored the original order, allowing Sainz to recover third place after an earlier puncture. With overtaking exceedingly difficult, Leclerc controlled the pace, protected his tyres and absorbed constant pressure from Piastri before accelerating clear near the finish.

The SF-24 represented a substantial revision of Ferrari’s previous Formula One design, with reworked aerodynamics, improved handling and a more predictable platform. Powered by Ferrari’s 1.6-litre turbocharged V6 hybrid unit, its traction, balance and precise response made it particularly effective through Monaco’s narrow sequence of slow corners.

Born and raised in Monaco, Leclerc progressed through karting and the Ferrari Driver Academy before winning the GP3 and Formula 2 championships in consecutive seasons. He joined Ferrari in 2019 and quickly established himself as an exceptional qualifier. His victory made him the first Monégasque driver to win his home race as a Formula One World Championship Grand Prix.