MONACO — Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc celebrated a boyhood dream come true on Sunday as the first home winner of Formula One’s showcase Monaco Grand Prix since Louis Chiron triumphed in 1931.
It was also the first time the 26-year-old had stood on the Monaco podium in six attempts and came after two standing starts from pole position in a race halted when first-lap collisions took out a fifth of the field.
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri finished runner-up, 7.1 seconds behind after 78 laps without a chance to overtake on a street circuit that often produces processional races, and Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz was third.
“It means a lot,” said Mr. Leclerc.
, who screamed over the radio as he took a checkered flag waved by France soccer forward Kylian Mbappe while the crowd erupted and Prince Albert gave a royal thumbs up.
“It’s the race that made me dream of becoming a Formula One driver one day.”
Red Bull’s championship leader and 2023 Monaco winner Max Verstappen started and finished sixth, the third time in eight races this season that the triple world champion has been beaten.
McLaren’s Lando Norris was fourth and George Russell fifth for Mercedes. — Reuters
