Charles Leclerc admits home podium ‘not much’ in search of ending Monaco blues

charles leclerc admits home podium ‘not much’ in search of ending monaco blues

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc in Monaco.

Charles Leclerc has admitted the prospect of a home podium anywhere other than the top step “is not really something that excites me”, as he looks to end a significant run of bad luck at Monaco.

The Ferrari driver’s issues at his home circuit stretch all the way back to his GP2 [now F2] days, and while he is already the most successful Monégasque driver in Formula 1 history, a podium at the most historic race of them all eludes him.

Charles Leclerc: Monaco win ‘is what we need to target’ at Ferrari

Additional reporting by Sam Cooper

From a double retirement in GP2 to suffering a DNS after qualifying on pole in 2021, Leclerc and his fans have been put through the ringer in various ways at his home event to a degree where the ‘Monaco curse’ has become a term associated with his toils on social media.

While he is yet to finish above fourth place around the streets where he grew up, that has not dampened his spirits – especially considering how competitive he has often been around Monaco in previous years.

With that, he heads into the weekend full of hope that this year can be his year.

“I’m feeling good,” Leclerc told media including PlanetF1.com in Monte Carlo.

“Obviously it’s always a very special feeling, the Monaco week. I think it is for all the drivers, but for me specifically having grown up here it’s extra special, so I’m really looking forward to it.

“We’ve always been competitive here, so hopefully it will be just the same this weekend. However, the finality of the weekends haven’t ever been the one I wanted, which we have worked [on] a lot.

“We’ve done our preparation in the best possible way, and I hope that this weekend will be the good one.”

Where has the ‘Monaco curse’ for Charles Leclerc originated?

👉 Charles Leclerc’s Monaco curse: From F2 double DNF to crashing Lauda’s iconic Ferrari

👉 Uncovered: Ferrari’s major SF-24 upgrades that could power them to Monaco win

When asked what getting on the podium at home for the first time in his seventh attempt would mean to him, he replied: “Not much. Not much.

“I mean, second or third is not really something that excites me, so the win is what we need to target.

“We’ve seen in the last few races that Red Bull, McLaren and ourselves are pretty close in qualifying and we know how important qualifying is here, so we’ll have to put everything together and, if we are on pole, then that will give us good chances to get what we want – which is a win.

“I feel like in Monaco you always start a little bit from scratch. As much as what we’ve seen in the last few races, I think it won’t be too different.

“There still can be some surprises. We’ve seen it in 2021 I think with us, where we were nowhere but then we got to Monaco and our car was was working very well.

“So we’ll have to see after Friday where we are compared to the others, but I would be surprised if we are not in the mix for pole at least.”

OTHER NEWS

17 minutes ago

2025 Volkswagen Golf R: Hot hatch gets hotter

17 minutes ago

Future of Laybuy unknown after company placed into receivership

17 minutes ago

Melbourne star Christian Petracca says season-ending King's Birthday injuries 'the most traumatic thing I've experienced'

17 minutes ago

Volkswagen dropping $5bn into struggling EV maker Rivian

17 minutes ago

Gary Neville says England substitute 'must start' Euro 2024 last-16 tie

17 minutes ago

KF-21 Fighter: KAI Signs $1.41 Billion Deal To Start Production Of South Korean Air Force Next-Gen Jet

17 minutes ago

Celine Dion’s sweet friendship with Aussie music legend John Farnham

17 minutes ago

Ramnaresh Sarwan predicts mass exodus of West Indies players to the US

17 minutes ago

Jeremy Renner felt his skull crack in hellish snowplough accident

18 minutes ago

A US$100 billion bet on China’s economy sours as warehouses empty

18 minutes ago

India's Rahul Gandhi appointed as parliamentary leader of opposition

20 minutes ago

America's largest outdoor mineral springs resort is coming to Houston

24 minutes ago

Katie Holmes receives award in Italy in stunning off-white gown

24 minutes ago

Hearing on removal of Jack Smith from Trump case concludes

24 minutes ago

Titans' Rashad Weaver: 'It's time to take a leap' in Year 4

24 minutes ago

Woman Has Internet Hooked With Daily Vlogs as Moulin Rouge Dancer

24 minutes ago

China rover returns historic samples from far side of the moon — and they may contain secrets to Earth's deep past

24 minutes ago

2024 Volkswagen Golf R brings power boost and new tech

24 minutes ago

Julian Assange Pleads Guilty to Espionage, Securing His Freedom

24 minutes ago

Estimated declaration times of General Election results: Alphabetical list

24 minutes ago

Farage called out over comments

24 minutes ago

£1.4bn worth of PPE from single firm was destroyed or written off

24 minutes ago

Lol: Woman drank alcohol from her handbag at fancy restaurant, Mzansi laughs

24 minutes ago

Woman Not 'Satisfied' With Carpet Job—Then Cleaner Shared the Before Photo

28 minutes ago

Jacksonville approves $1.4B renovation of Jaguars stadium

28 minutes ago

Guatemala appeals court revokes judge's order to give house arrest to renowned journalist José Rubén Zamora

28 minutes ago

Suspected Yemen Houthi attack targets vessel in waters farther away than many previous assaults

28 minutes ago

Guatemalan appeals court revokes order to grant house arrest to journalist José Rubén Zamora

29 minutes ago

Valley View tornado survivor continues to heal after suffering broken ribs, a punctured lung and blood clot

29 minutes ago

Canada beats Peru 1-0 for first ever Copa America win

29 minutes ago

Woman found shot to death in Illinois farm field finally identified after nearly 50 years

30 minutes ago

Kenya Moore Breaks Her Silence After ‘RHOA’ Season 16 Exit

30 minutes ago

A skydiving accident left him a double amputee. Now he’s a snowboarding champion

32 minutes ago

Video: Michael Phelps says false doping accusations eroded 'a lifetime of mental health growth' - and now regulators turning a blind eye to accusations of China doing just that

32 minutes ago

Video: Nigel Farage makes thinly veiled swipe after being booed by crowd as he wins best news presenter at the TRIC Awards

33 minutes ago

Newly sworn-in ANC MP Zizi Kodwa: State’s case against me is ‘nonexistent’

33 minutes ago

John 5 Responds to Accusations of Guitar Miming With Motley Crue

33 minutes ago

Despite political uncertainty, Cape Town's office rental market thrives

33 minutes ago

Labor’s renewables-only approach ‘can’t’ stabilise Australia’s energy grid

33 minutes ago

Medihelp reports strong growth, more younger members join