After the exciting finish to the Imola GP last week, we hurry back to the grid for another Grand Prix weekend, this time on the historic street track in Monaco. The story for Sunday's race day is if Charles Leclerc can finally win from pole position on his home soil.
The race in Imola was a rather uneventful one, at least until the last 15-20 laps. First, we saw Ferrari's Charles Leclerc find life in his younger hard tires to immediately put some pressure on McLaren's Lando Norris. Leclerc's pace-filled stint eventually wore off as his tires degraded, soon falling back in time to Norris.
But once the Monegasque halted his attack, Lando Norris' McLaren came to life on the hards, just as the race leader, Red Bull's Max Verstappen, was starting to have difficulties managing his tires.
With 10 laps left, Norris went on a tear, flying across the track, cutting a 7-second gap to .700-second by the final lap. We watched in anticipation as to if Lando would be the second driver since Charles Leclerc in 2019 to win a Grand Prix back-to-back after his maiden victory.
Unfortunately for Norris, Verstappen was able to hold on to his lead, winning the Emilia-Romagna GP behind a valiant effort in battling his car to the end.
After ending the last race on the edge of our seats, we don't have to wait long for our next race, and it will be one to watch in Monaco.
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Charles Leclerc Finally Wins at Home
Is this the year Charles Leclerc wins in Monaco?
Time will tell soon, but Leclerc had to be on his A-game in Saturday's qualifying session, and he was, if he hopes to hoist the trophy at home. He has already logged a P1 finish in Practice sessions 2 and 3, but could he carry his pace over to qualifying and race day?
So far, yes. Charles Leclerc will start at P1 for the Monaco GP. After back to back flyers of laps in Q3, Leclerc has put himself in the best position possible to finally win at home.
So far, uncharacteristically, Leclerc has had a hard time in qualifying this year. He has improved since the start of the season, but really needed to put together his work and get his tuneups and tires right for the all-important qualifying in Monaco.
Charles Leclerc failed to log a front row placement in Imola, but has improved his times overall and finished on the podium at P3. In Monaco, Leclerc handled the pressure and got the win from pole position on his home soil.
This victory has thickened the plot of the 2024 Championship race, as Charles Leclerc and Ferrari are now not too far behind Red Bull and Max Verstappen.
Lando Norris and McLaren Join the Fight
(Photo : Clive Rose/Getty Images)
Lando Norris and McLaren just dive-bombed themselves straight into the championship fight as the upgrades McLaren have added since the Miami GP have paid off greatly for the team. After getting his first-ever race win in Miami, Norris followed up his stellar performance with another podium place, finishing P2 in Imola.
After the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, the Drivers Championship standings currently hold Verstappen atop with 161 points, Leclerc now in second with 113, Sergio Perez in third at 107, and Norris now in fourth only 6 points behind Perez.
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