It was an emotional Sunday in Monaco for Charles Leclerc, who became a hero in his home country after becoming the first Monegasque driver to win the Monaco Grand Prix in 93 years.
Leclerc led the race from start to finish, and emotions bubbled up from him and the crowd as victory seemed imminent. And at that moment, announcer Alex Jacques compiled a fantastic narration of the final lap to summarize how much this victory meant to Leclerc.
Fair warning: this one strikes a chord.
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Charles Leclerc attends the Monaco F1 Grand Prix on May 26, 2024 in Monte Carlo. (Arnold Jerocki/FilmMagic)
“In 2017, Charles Leclerc lost his father,” Jacques said. “And in his last days, he told his father a white lie: he had made it to Formula One. That he had signed the contract. It wasn't true then, but his driving has come true now.”
Leclerc said on the podium after the race that he was thinking about his late father, Hervé Leclerc, who died aged 54 while Charles was trying to break into Formula One while competing in Formula 2.
“The emotions were already coming,” Leclerc said. “I have to say I was thinking [about] my dad, much more than I thought while driving.
“He's given everything for me to be here. It was a dream for me to run here and win, so it's incredible.”
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Jacques beautifully continued his narrative after mentioning Leclerc's father.
“Now, look what he's done with the opportunity,” he said. “The grandstands he saw built as a child now rise for him. For the first time in 93 years, this legendary race is won by one of his own. Charles Leclerc wins the Monaco Grand Prix to achieve his dream!”
Jacques also made sure to preface these comments with an anecdote involving the late Jules Bianchi, whom Leclerc honored earlier this year on the 10th anniversary of his tragic death during the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix. He died from his injuries. suffered in the last laps on a wet track.
Charles Leclerc drives the Ferrari SF-24 for Tabac during the F1 Monaco Grand Prix at the Monaco Circuit on May 26, 2024. (Song Haiyuan/MB Media/Getty Images)
Bianchi was a mentor whom Leclerc constantly thanked for the success of his career.
“His career ended without the intervention of the late Jules Bianchi, who told Ferrari: 'You have to take this guy. You have to make sure he makes it to Formula One.' And what a gift it was to give him,” Jacques said.
They were the perfect words to sum up everything Leclerc has worked for to get to the point where he broke the Monaco Grand Prix “curse” of not being won by one of his own.
Charles Leclerc celebrates on the podium after winning the F1 Grand Prix on May 26, 2024. (Bryn Lennon – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images)
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It was more than just crossing another finish line.
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