Introducing the winner of the 2024 Monaco Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc from Ferrari in first place, followed by Oscar Piastri from McLaren in second place, and Carlos Sainz from Ferrari in third place.
Q: Charles, congratulations. You not only won the Monaco Grand Prix, but also won your home Grand Prix. How do you feel now?
Charles LECLERC: It’s indescribable. This race was incredibly challenging. The fact that I started from pole position twice before and couldn’t win adds meaning to this victory. It means a lot to me. This race was what made me dream of becoming a Formula 1 driver, so it’s a very exciting win. I could feel the emotions building up 15 laps before the end of the race. I was thinking a lot about my father during the race. It was our dream for me to race here and win, so it’s really amazing.
Q: People always talk about Monaco being the most important race and that Saturday is the crucial day. But today, there was still a lot of work to be done on the track, with 78 laps and pressure from behind. It’s not an easy race, is it?
CL: It’s incredibly difficult. At the beginning, I thought we had a comfortable lead, but we knew we had to do 78 laps on the same tires, which was very challenging. But we managed the tires well. There was a significant part of the race where we had to maintain the gap to George. In the last 10 laps, I was able to push a bit more, and the car was amazing. I want to thank the team for their incredible work in the last few months. They gave me the opportunity to finally win this race, and it’s a very special feeling.
Q: When you crossed the finish line, the crowd erupted in applause. Do you have any words for the fans?
CL: A huge thank you to the fans. The parade laps were already special, seeing my friends and so many familiar faces on the balconies. It was a very special moment. This victory means a lot to me, and the support I received throughout the weekend is invaluable. Thank you all.
P: Oscar, you must be happy with your podium in Monaco. It’s the race of dreams, and you were so close to victory. How was the race for you?
Oscar PIASTRI: It was a tricky race. The pace was incredibly slow at the beginning, and I had a small opportunity before the tunnel, but I didn’t have a small enough car to fit through. I want to thank the whole team. It was a great weekend overall, and it’s good to finally get a good result. We’ve been strong in recent weekends, but the results didn’t reflect that. So, it’s great to be on the podium, especially in Monaco.
P: It was exciting to see you at the start, making overtakes on the track. Your aggressiveness was evident. Did you think you had a chance to pass Charles?
OP: Yes, I made an attempt about 10 or 15 laps later, at Turn 8. We were going very slow, slower than Formula 2 at one point. When you’re going that slow, you have a few options. But I knew that as soon as I showed my intentions to overtake, Charles would notice. I got close at Turn 7 and tried to show my car at Turn 8, but he reacted fast enough. After that, my options were limited.
P: Carlos, it must be a mix of emotions for you. After the initial start, it seemed like the race was over for you. But you were lucky with the restart and managed to secure a place on the podium.
Carlos SAINZ: It was a tight race. Initially, I had a bad feeling after the first start, but it quickly turned into a good feeling after being reinstated in P3. The race pace was good from there, as we expected. It’s impossible to overtake on the streets of Monaco. But I am extremely happy to see Charles win his home Grand Prix. He has been driving exceptionally well all weekend, and it’s a great feeling to share the podium with him in P3. The whole team deserves this, and it shows that we are getting stronger every weekend.
P: Towards the end of the race, you were closing in on Oscar. Did you notice any weaknesses in his performance?
CS: As soon as I was sure that Lando behind me had no chance of stopping to put on medium tires and attack me at the end, I focused on setting fast laps. I managed a 1m14s, which was quick at the time. I thought I had a chance to put pressure on Oscar and maybe force him to make a mistake. I saw him lose the rear a few times, but it wasn’t enough to pass him.
P: Oscar, congratulations on your podium. How did you enjoy the celebrations?
OP: Thank you. I am very happy. A podium in Formula 1 never gets old. It is especially special to achieve it here in Monaco. If there is a podium, besides your home podium, that you want to climb, it is definitely here. So, I am very pleased for the team. It has been a few promising weekends, and it’s good to finally get a good result out of it.
P: During the race, you tried to overtake Charles at Turn 8. Can you tell us about that moment?
OP: I made an attempt about 10 or 15 laps after the start at Turn 8. We were going very slow, slower than Formula 2 at one point. When you’re going that slow, you have a few options. I got very close at Turn 7 and tried to show my car at Turn 8, but Charles reacted quickly enough. After that, I knew my options were limited.
P: McLaren has been performing well in the recent races. Do you think you can fight for the championship?
OP: I believe so. We have been competitive at different circuits in the recent races. Even at circuits where McLaren traditionally wasn’t strong, we showed good performance. It’s exciting to have a car capable of fighting for wins on various types of tracks. The championship fight is tight, and we can definitely be in contention every weekend.
P: Carlos, this is your third podium in Monaco in the last four years. What does this win mean to you?
CS: This win means a lot, especially as a Ferrari driver. It’s great to see my teammate, Charles, win his home Grand Prix. He has been driving exceptionally well, and he deserves this win. It’s a great feeling to share the podium with him in P3. The whole team deserves this, and we are getting stronger every weekend.
P: Can you talk about the incident with Oscar at the original start? What was going through your mind at that moment?
CS: I had a good start and had an opportunity going into Turn 1. I went a bit deep and had a bit of understeer in the car while trying to hold my position against Oscar. It was the only chance I had to overtake. We had a slight contact, but it was so small that I didn’t even feel it. Unfortunately, Oscar and I seem to find each other on track quite often, even getting along well. It was a minor incident, but I immediately felt the puncture after exiting Turn 1. At one point, it felt like my race was over, but I was lucky to recover to P3 and continue the race.
P: How frustrating is it to be stuck in a train of cars like that, going slower than your capabilities? Did you consider trying to overtake Oscar?
CS: I was tempted a few times, but after the first lap and knowing how Monaco is, where it’s all or nothing, I didn’t want to risk a collision that could end the race for both of us. Monaco is like that. I had my chances and temptations, both in the first 15 laps and in the last 10 laps, but there was never a clear opportunity to overtake without contact. I knew my race pace was good, and I was the fastest in terms of race pace in Friday’s practice sessions. But in Monaco, track position is crucial, and we lost it to Oscar in qualifying.
P: Ferrari is only 24 points behind Red Bull in the Constructors’ Championship. Do you believe you have a chance to fight for the title?
CS: Realistically, I think Red Bull is still the favorite on normal tracks. They may not dominate like before, but they are still the favorites. McLaren and Ferrari are at a similar level, and we will have fierce battles between the three teams. Our performance in Imola and Miami shows that we are competitive. Every small progress or upgrade we bring to the car can make a difference. Putting pressure on Red Bull can lead to mistakes, as we saw in yesterday’s qualifying. We just need to be there and show that they can also make mistakes.
P: Charles, this victory took a long time to happen. Do you believe it can be a turning point for more wins in the future?
CL: I believe the turning point of the season happened a few races ago. We didn’t have the car to win in the previous races, but we had it here, and I took the opportunity. We have been working to improve our qualifying pace, and I am happy with the progress we have made. It’s important not to get carried away. Monaco is a specific track, and we had a great car this weekend. We need to keep working hard and maximizing every race. I hope we continue to progress and achieve more wins.
P: There are only 31 points between you and Max in the championship. How do you feel about your chances in the title fight?
CL: Oh, it’s 31 points? I was told it was 23, so I was excited. But 31 is also good. It’s still early in the season, and I don’t think about the championship at this point. We have to see how our upgrades work and focus on maximizing every race. The difference between us and Red Bull shows that when they are under pressure, they can make mistakes. Yesterday’s qualifying session is a perfect example. We just need to be consistent and keep fighting.
P: Charles, this victory took a long time to happen, and it was associated with the “Leclerc curse” in Monaco. Does this victory feel like a relief from that curse? And does it alleviate some of the pressure for future races here?
CL: I never believed in the curse, but I understand why people talked about it. It was frustrating to lose previous victories here. This victory definitely feels like a relief from that curse. However, it doesn’t alleviate the pressure for future races. Every race is a new challenge, and I will continue to focus on performing at my best.
P: Oscar, Carlos mentioned your attempt to overtake Charles at Turn 8 early in the race. Can you share your perspective on that moment?
OP: Yes, I made an attempt to overtake Charles about 10 or 15 laps after the start at Turn 8. We were going very slow, slower than Formula 2 at one point. When you are going that slow, you have a few options. I got very close at Turn 7 and tried to show my car at Turn 8, but Charles reacted quickly enough. After that, I knew my options were limited.
P: Carlos, Red Bull is still considered the favorite, but they may struggle at certain tracks. Does this give you hope that Ferrari can compete for the championship?
CS: Red Bull is still the favorite on normal tracks, but I don’t think they will dominate like before. McLaren and Ferrari are at a similar level, and it will be a fierce battle between the three teams. Our performance in Imola and Miami shows that we can be competitive. We just need to be there and put pressure on Red Bull. Yesterday’s qualifying session showed that they can also make mistakes.
© 2024
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