Local hero Charles Leclerc won his first ever Formula 1 Grand Prix on his home track with Ferrari team mate Carlos Sainz finishing 3rd to complete a mega weekend for the Prancing Horses. Leclerc was more or less untroubled throughout the weekend finishing P1 in qualifying and leading the race from start to finish to get his maiden with of the season.
This is Leclerc’s first ever win on home soil despite starting from pole in three of the last four races at Monaco. The Monegasque had never even finished on the podium previously making yesterday’s victory that extra bit sweeter. “No words can explain that. It was the race that made me want to be a Formula 1 driver one day,” Leclerc said.
The Mclaren duo of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri continued from were they left in Imola with the Aussie finishing 2nd and Miami race winner Norris finishing a respectable 4th. This shows the huge strides the Papaya outfit is taking knowing their recent struggles at Monaco.
With this victory Leclerc increased his points tally to 138 points only 31 behind the Championship leader Max Verstappen with 169 points . Lando Norris occupies the 3rd position with 113 points ahead of Carlos Sainz with 108 points. Verstappen’s team mate Sergio Perez drops down to 5th after DNF in Monaco.
In the Constructor’s Championship, Red Bull’s lead over Ferrari is down to 24 points after a weekend to forget for the reigning world champions. McLaren are sitting comfortable in 3rd position with 184 points followed by Mercedes with 96 points. Aston Martin complete the top 5 with 44 points.
Can Max Verstappen Be Caught Amid Red Bull Struggles?
Red Bull had a disaster weekend in Monaco with Max Verstappen finishing 6th and Sergio Perez crashing in the very first lap of the race. The reigning world champion has been reeled in by his opponents in the points table but Team Principle Christian Horner remains confident that the team can regain their form heading into Canada. Knowing that Monaco’s street circuit was never going to be favorable track for the Milton Keans’s outfit, the Bull’s would certainly be back to their normal best in Montreal.
Red Bull definitely have an edge on the conventional tracks on the F1 calendar so Verstappen, despite struggling in recent races, is still the man to beat in this season of F1 world championship.
Mohd Faisal Hakak is a sports author from Kashmir. He likes to keep tabs on the sporting world with a keen interest in football, motorsports, NBA, and other marquee sports. He is a science graduate from Islamia College Srinagar.
