Charles Leclerc triumphs at the Monaco Formula 1 Grand Prix, driving for Ferrari, much to the joy of the local spectators.

With the monkey off his back, Charles Leclerc gave himself the luxury of tears of pleasure as he hopped out of his vehicle, triumphant in his home Monaco Grand Prix. There were thoughts of his family, excitement, and relief among the feelings, with Formula One as a whole feeling the latter after Red Bull’s Sergio Pérez survived a terrible crash on the first lap.

Leclerc, 26, has won the race for the sixth time and is the first Monegasque to do so since the Formula One world championship began in 1950. He beat McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz to finish second and third.

Leclerc was obviously happy, as was the home audience, whose support was evident, not least in a massive picture of Leclerc painted as a saint hanging from one of the boats that line Monte Carlo’s harbor. He is understandably proud, and it was undoubtedly fun to thread the needle through the streets of the principality from the cockpit. However, the race he won was boring to watch. Tyre management dictated a torturously slow speed, and passing was impossible, so the cars circled in an unending procession, delivering little attraction, no feeling of danger, and hardly a semblance of racing.

With the top ten finishing in their identical grid order, there was not a single attempt at an overtaking – Monaco, the so-called gem in the Formula One crown, showing once again to be clearly unsuitable for contemporary racing.

The opening-lap incident was a pivotal moment in the race and served as a reminder of the dangers of the sport.

Sergio Pérez’s Red Bull gets removed from the course after a first-lap collision.

Sergio Pérez’s Red Bull gets removed from the course after a first-lap collision. Photo: Clive Rose/Getty Images
Pérez started 16th and was hit from behind by Kevin Magnussen’s Haas on the way up Beau Rivage. Slewed sideways, he was launched into one wall, then another, leaving nothing but the reinforced cockpit of his vehicle crushed to bits and scattered over the track, with just one wheel remaining connected to what remained of his ride. The incident included both Haas cars, but all of the drivers were unharmed.

The sheer size of the disaster was immense, and it occurred at around 150 mph as they drove up the hill. It was a testament to contemporary automotive safety regulations and intensive testing of what is known as the cockpit’s survival cell.

The FIA judged it a racing incident and did not conduct further investigation. With a red flag, racing was halted for 45 minutes as marshals repaired the barriers, which had been bent by the force of the hit.

With 75 laps to go, the teams were poised to finish without a pit stop after taking advantage of the red-flag delay to replace their tires. This provided a race of tire and speed management, inspired by the nature of the circuit and ensuring the rubber could cover the distance. What followed was a nose-to-tail procession, with Leclerc maintaining a frustratingly slow pace.

Laps ensued. Lap, after lap, after lap. With the water of the port shimmering in the light, the waves lapped against the boats with the same endless monotony, but were possibly nicer.

On lap 39, Ferrari urged Leclerc to slow down even further, which was as unedifying a radio communication as F1 had ever seen and would have likely generated shudders among F1 corporate chiefs. A scathing indictment of the circuit’s archaic character, which was previously criticized this weekend for being unsuitable for contemporary F1 vehicles.

Max Verstappen, the world champion who finished sixth – significant only in that Leclerc has now reduced his lead to 31 points – was refreshingly candid and precise in his judgment. “Fuck me, this is really boring, should have brought my pillow,” he told his race engineer, Gianpiero ­Lambiase, amid the constant question marks about what the circuit needs do to adapt.

Leclerc remained unconcerned about everything and, to be honest, took a well-deserved victory, though he would have loved to do it in a more fashionable manner. This was Leclerc’s boyhood ambition, and he overcame adversity to achieve it. Not least, his father, Hervé, who was essential in guiding his career, died during Leclerc’s 2017 F2 season. He had previously lost his godfather, F1 driver Jules Bianchi, who died a year after colliding at Suzuka in 2014.

Unsurprisingly, his father had been on his thoughts as he prepared to take the flag. “I was thinking of my dad a lot more than I thought while driving, obviously he’s given everything for me to be here,” he said. “It was a dream of ours and for me to race here and to win and so it’s unbelievable.”

A dream come true and a moment to remember for the Ferrari driver, but only in a race that most will undoubtedly forget quickly.

Land Norris finished fourth for McLaren, while George Russell and Lewis Hamilton came in fifth and seventh for Mercedes, respectively. Yuki Tsunoda finished eighth for RB, Alex Albon ninth for Williams, and Pierre Gasly 10th for Alpine.