Charles Leclerc wins home race at processional Monaco Grand Prix

Hometown hero Charles Leclerc ended his Monaco curse by winning a processional race that Max Verstappen claimed was “so boring” he wish he had “brought my pillow”.

After near-misses in 2021 and 2022, Leclerc kept McLaren’s Oscar Piastri at bay to take his first victory on home soil and reduce the championship gap to Verstappen to 31 points.

Leclerc’s Ferrari team-mate Carlos Sainz finished third, one place ahead of British driver Lando Norris.

George Russell crossed the line in fifth for Mercedes with Verstappen sixth and Lewis Hamilton seventh. The top 10 finished in the same order they started.

"Tonight is going to be a big night!" ❤️#F1 #MonacoGP @Charles_Leclerc pic.twitter.com/j1z7QJvj1J

— Formula 1 (@F1) May 26, 2024

“No words can explain that,” said Leclerc. “It is such a difficult race, and the fact that twice I have started on pole, and we couldn’t do it, makes this even better.

“It means a lot. It is the race that made me dream of being an F1 driver one day.

“It was a difficult race emotionally because 15 laps form the end you are hoping nothing happens and the emotions started.”

Leclerc, whose father Herve died in 2017, added: “I was thinking about my dad when I was driving. He gave everything for me to be here. It was a dream of ours for me to race here so to win it is unbelievable.”

The race had started in explosive fashion when Sergio Perez was fortunate to walk away from a staggering 160mph crash on the opening lap.

Perez, 16th on the grid, hit the barrier as the field made their way up the hill from Sainte Devote.

The Mexican was sent into the wall after Kevin Magnussen’s front-left wheel made contract with the rear-right of Perez’s Red Bull.

Perez’s Red Bull machinery was destroyed on impact, with all