Charles Leclerc and Ferrari bask in the glory of his victory at the Monaco GP.
Charles Leclerc’s “that’s rude” message to new race engineer Bryan Bozzi was nothing more than a bit of banter as the Ferrari driver was ordered to win the Monaco Grand Prix by driving as slow as possible.
Leclerc commenced the race from the top spot on the grid, maintaining his lead from the moment the race started and also after the restart. Throughout the streets of Monte Carlo, Leclerc expertly dictated the pace of the race.
Charles Leclerc won the Monaco GP ahead of Oscar Piastri
By doing this, he essentially communicated to Ferrari’s competitors whether or not they were allowed to make a pit stop during the race after the initial free tire change following Sergio Perez’s crash on lap 1.
With the question of to pit or not to pit dominating the airwaves, Leclerc and Ferrari decided if anyone of the top five, which included Oscar Piastri, Carlos Sainz, Lando Norris and George Russell, had the gap to do so without losing a position.
Ferrari aimed to make sure they avoided any mistakes, particularly considering Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton’s impressive pace following their pit stops.
Leclerc was repeatedly advised to reduce his speed in order to prevent the McLarens and Russell from gaining an advantage in terms of pit stop time. Despite this, the Monegasque driver expressed his desire to discuss specific figures with his new race engineer, Bozzi.
Leclerc: Just for your info… Do you want to know the margin?
Bozzi: No Charles, we are not interested, we know.
Leclerc: You said no, right?
Bozzi: No, we are not interested.
Leclerc: That’s rude
However, this was all said in a playful manner as the native of Monaco raced, so to speak, towards his very first victory in the Monaco Grand Prix.
“Doornbos comments that Leclerc has a fantastic opportunity here,” he states. However, on Sunday, Leclerc didn’t have to exert much effort to achieve it. “We’ve witnessed this scenario before, but pit stops are still carried out, just not on a track like Monaco,” remarks the analyst, who has spent a significant portion of his life in that location.
According to former F1 driver Robert Doornbos, putting banter aside, Ferrari had a singular goal on Sunday.
“He expressed his desire to convey to his team that he still had a significant amount of speed remaining. However, the team responded by stating their lack of interest. Their sole focus was to accomplish the race’s objective, leaving no room for distractions,” he shared with Ziggo Sport Race Café.
“His modest victory holds no significance in comparison. What truly matters is that this is Monaco, his cherished home Grand Prix, a true gem.”
Key takeaways from the Monaco Grand Prix
Monaco Grand Prix driver ratings: Charles Leclerc’s day of glory as Perez & Magnussen shock
Monaco GP data: Mercedes ‘survival’ strategy conditioned by Alonso’s traffic denies fight for the win
‘It’s anticipation, it’s gambling’
However, after a rather dull Grand Prix, where the top ten drivers maintained their positions from the start to the finish line, former F1 driver Jan Lammers referred to it as a “strategic battle”.
“This,” he declared, “is simply how things are. To emerge victorious, one must do whatever is necessary. That’s the reality.”
Pulling the field apart results in the formation of holes. Those who are able to make a pit stop without losing their position are equipped with fresh tires. In the event of a Safety Car and others opting to enter the pits, the person who managed to do so immediately takes the lead.
“It involves anticipation and gambling, a logical game of sorts…”
“However,” he added, “that doesn’t enhance the enjoyment factor.”
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