The Enigma of Charles Leclerc’s Monaco Misfortunes

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc has been grappling with a series of setbacks at the Monaco Grand Prix, his cherished home race. From 2017 to 2023, Leclerc secured two pole positions but failed to convert them into victories. Moreover, he experienced three retirements at Monaco, in some cases even before the race commenced.

The Origins of the “Monaco Curse

This string of misfortunes at his home race has given rise to what many have dubbed the “Monaco curse,” a shadow that seems destined to follow him throughout his career. The curse made its presence felt once again during Friday’s FP1, where Leclerc collided with Lance Stroll’s Aston Martin.

Stroll, who was allowing another car to pass, slowed down without clear communication from his team, placing himself squarely in Leclerc’s path as he took the hairpin. The FIA deemed Stroll “wholly to blame” for the incident and imposed a one-place grid penalty on the Canadian driver for Sunday’s race.

Leclerc’s Ferrari lost its front wing, but managed to get back on track eventually and ended up at the top of the time sheet. The Aston, however, needed a gearbox change and massive repairs to the car’s rear.

The Return of the “Monaco Curse

Social media was abuzz with comments like Tom Bellingham’s post on X: “Died 2024. Born 2025. Welcome Back Leclerc Monaco curse.” Others questioned its return, with some fans jokingly wondering whether the curse had been “inherited” by Haas driver Ollie Bearman, who received a 10-place grid penalty for overtaking under red flag conditions.

The Beginning of Leclerc’s Struggles in Monaco

Charles Leclerc’s struggles in Monaco began in 2017 during his Formula 2 season, where he secured pole but retired from both races. In 2018, after moving to Formula 1 with Sauber, he faced a brake issue that caused a crash.

His time with Ferrari in 2019 saw more misfortune, as he qualified 15th and crashed during the race. Leclerc finally claimed pole in 2021, but a car failure prevented him from starting. In 2022, he secured pole again, but a pit stop miscommunication cost him the victory. In 2023, starting from P6 due to a penalty, he faced another disappointing finish, marking his second consecutive race finished at his home track, but still off the podium.

Breaking the Curse?

In 2024, after a start on pole position, Leclerc finally broke through, getting his maiden home Grand Prix win. His performance at street circuits like Monaco has always been impressive, securing several key victories and notable podium finishes, with the only thing seemingly hindering him from winning in Monaco being the circumstances.

I never believed in the curse, but it always felt very difficult in the two occasions I had a chance to win here,” Leclerc said after the race. “One I couldn’t even start the race. The second one, we didn’t make the right strategy choice, I think. It was very frustrating to lose those wins.

The thing is that as a driver, you never really know when will be the next opportunity to win, especially when it’s your home race. And even more so when your home race is Monaco, that is such a special track, such a difficult track, and such a difficult weekend to master and do everything perfectly, which we did.

So I knew that today was another opportunity, I knew how it felt the last two times that I was in this position, but I obviously really wanted to get that victory today.