In Monaco, Charles Leclerc engages in a conversation with his latest addition to the family.
Lining up ahead of his ‘adopted’ son Oscar Piastri, Charles Leclerc has offered to adopt Carlos Sainz too with the Spaniard potentially the prince-maker in Monaco.
Piastri and Charles Leclerc have had a running joke over the past few days after the McLaren driver sought his Monaco roots but without success, prompting Leclerc to offer to adopt him.
Charles Leclerc v Oscar Jack Piastri-Leclerc into Turn 1 in Monaco
Calling himself “Oscar Jack Piastri-Leclerc”, it was all-family front row in qualifying on the street of the Principality as Leclerc clinched pole position by 0.154s ahead of Piastri-Leclerc.
Sainz, the teammate of the Monegasque native, secured a third-place qualification.
With the upcoming Grand Prix in Monaco, where overtaking is notoriously difficult, Leclerc anticipates that a strong start could be crucial in securing a victory.
He stated, “I require a solid launch, both off the grid and into Turn 1, so that Carlos and I can ideally secure the positions of 1-2.”
“If we find ourselves with a record of 1-2, our team will come together and handle it. This would be an ideal situation for us. Nevertheless, regardless of the outcome, our utmost priority is to secure that victory.”
Sainz’s determination knows no bounds as he strives to assist his team-mate in breaking free from his unfortunate Monaco curse.
“The main objective is to maximize the performance of both cars and secure a victory for Charles in the race,” stated the Spaniard. “Additionally, Monaco is always unpredictable, and anything can occur.”
“However, in the event of my victory, it is likely due to some unusual circumstances involving Charles, such as strategy or Safety Cars, which I sincerely hope do not hinder my performance.”
Without a doubt, our collective desire is to emerge victorious. Nevertheless, I strongly believe that Charles should be the one to claim victory in Monaco, considering his unfortunate streak.
“He has displayed exceptional strength throughout the entire weekend and in the past as well. Today, we hope for a smooth day without any unforeseen events, and we will see if Charles can lead us to victory.”
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Our top priority will be to prevent Piastri, who is considered a member of Leclerc’s ‘adopted’ family, from getting involved.
Leclerc jokingly mentioned our family ties during the post-qualifying press conference, before playfully mentioning the involvement of our mother.
“Tonight, both of us will be meeting with my mom before starting in the front row. I believe she will help us relax, and hopefully, I can maintain the first position through Turn 1 while Oscar secures second place. However, let’s wait and see.”
Addressing Sainz, he jokingly asked, “Should I also consider adopting you? No need to feel envious, Carlos.”
Sainz responded, saying, “I could really use a haircut from your mom. I should find a new hairdresser in Monaco.”
Leclerc enthusiastically suggests, “You can reach out to her anytime, whenever it suits you. She is quite flexible and will definitely accommodate your needs.”
“Yeah, I believe it’s crucial for us to prioritize ourselves. Our focus should be on excelling in what we can control, beginning with a strong start. If we manage to initiate the race well, I have full confidence that we’ll maintain our position going into Turn 1. Plus, our recent track record of successful starts gives me reassurance, so I’m not overly concerned.”
Regarding the younger Leclerc, he holds the belief that the outcome of the Grand Prix will not be determined solely by Turn 1. Nevertheless, he is prepared to take precautionary measures to secure his chances of winning.
He stated, “Compared to everyone else, it’s a relatively brief journey. I may attempt to persuade your mother to allow me passage!”
“I’m not sure, it’s a short race for sure, and it’s Monaco after all, but winning or losing doesn’t solely depend on Turn 1. There are still opportunities to apply pressure, make strategic decisions, and succeed.”
Yeah, it’s not the ultimate solution, but it would definitely simplify life to some extent.
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