For his entire life in motorsport, Charles Leclerc has known success and sorrow in equal measure.
Through his father, Herve, who watched him driving a kart for the first time, refusing to stop until out of fuel, Leclerc would receive support and dedication as he rose up the ranks – only for death to separate them before he could reach the ultimate destination of Formula 1.
Through childhood family friend Jules Bianchi, Leclerc formed a relationship with Ferrari that would see him become one of the Scuderia’s most successful drivers – but Bianchi would not be there to witness it.
Even the occasion of Leclerc’s first grand prix victory, Spa-Francorchamps in 2019, death’s dark shadow descended over his moment of triumph – cast by the loss of Anthoine Hubert just a day before.
On the track, Leclerc has often faced frustration and disappointment. Joining the Scuderia just before they would endure two fruitless seasons in 2020 and 2021. A false dawn in 2022 that was followed by another winless year.
And then there was Monaco, his home grand prix. Back-to-back poles, back-to-back failures to convert them into victory. The one event he coveted above all others, the one that had compelled him to pursue this life to begin with, seemed destined to elude him.
But why pay mind to what fate may have in store when, instead, you can become its master?
The first two days of the 2024 Monaco Grand Prix weekend had shown that not only were Red Bull beatable, they were practically beaten themselves. Ferrari, through Leclerc, had been the pace-setters over two days of practice that showed how tight the field was at the front. Around a circuit that rewards drivers more than most, whoever would earn the most critical pole position of the season would do so through skill. And, once again, Leclerc did not falter when the time came.
Unlike his previous two Monte Carlo poles, there were no questions over his car, no rain clouds in the sky to complicate matters. There was nothing but clear road ahead and blue sky above. All he would need is to resist Oscar Piastri in the much-improved McLaren alongside him on the run to Sainte Devote and the rest would surely come easy.
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Like the three cars behind him on the grid, made up of Piastri, Leclerc’s team mate Carlos Sainz Jnr and Lando Norris in the second McLaren, Leclerc took the start on the medium tyre compound. The three…
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