Leclerc has broken the Monaco curse, clinching a long-awaited home win ahead of McLaren and RedBull.
Charles Leclerc finally clinched victory at the Monaco Grand Prix, showcasing a calm and controlled performance in a race that started with high drama.
Right from the get-go, the red flags waved due to a major crash involving Sergio Perez's Red Bull and both Haas cars, ending their race prematurely.
The race resumed with Leclerc at the helm, and despite the early exit of Esteban Ocon, who couldn't continue after a clash with teammate Pierre Gasly, the streets of Monte Carlo saw a strategy-filled (and frankly boring) competition that kept everyone guessing whether the front-runners would pit or push through to the finish.
Leclerc maintained his lead with a level-headed drive, marking his maiden win in his hometown race, a significant improvement over his previous best of fourth place.
He crossed the finish line a clear seven seconds ahead of McLaren's Oscar Piastri, who secured second place, fending off a late surge from Carlos Sainz, ensuring a double podium for Ferrari.
Piastri’s teammate, Lando Norris, kept the pressure on but ultimately settled for fourth, while Mercedes' George Russell, showcasing an upgraded front wing, finished fifth, holding off Max Verstappen of Red Bull, who faced challenges throughout the event.
Lewis Hamilton added to Mercedes' points with a seventh-place finish.
Yuki Tsunoda, in another solid performance, finished eighth. The points were rounded out by Alex Albon and Pierre Gasly, who both managed their first points of the season for Williams and Alpine, respectively.
Fernando Alonso aimed for a recovery after a tough Saturday but finished just outside the points in eleventh, leading Daniel Ricciardo and Valtteri Bottas. Disappointment was in store for Lance Stroll, who after a puncture post-pit stop, ended the race in fourteenth, followed by Logan Sargeant.
Zhou Guanyu was the last classified driver, placing sixteenth.
The race left Perez, Magnussen, Hulkenberg, and Ocon as retirees, with Ocon also receiving a grid penalty for the next race in Canada due to his early collision.