Charles Leclerc: “I only want victory, it’s the only thing that motivates me”
Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc is relatively optimistic about his home race, but is keeping his head on his shoulders despite never having finished on the podium in Monaco.
Charles Leclerc approaches the Monaco Grand Prix with a mix of optimism and realism. The Monegasque driver shared his thoughts on the current season, the preparation for his home race, and the challenges ahead against formidable opponents like Red Bull and McLaren.
« Consistency is important in a championship, that’s for sure,” said Leclerc during an interview session with the French-speaking press. Reflecting on the previous season, he mentioned the numerous missed opportunities but believes that this year, Ferrari has been able to maximize its chances: « When I look at this start of the season, I think as a team, there haven’t been many missed opportunities.” It’s actually a strong point when you look at the championship points, it’s positive.”
However, Leclerc does not hide his ambitions: On my side, I only want victory. It is the only thing that motivates me, and I will only be fully satisfied once we are on the highest step of the podium.
See the effect of improvements
Ferrari has made significant improvements at Imola, but Leclerc remains cautious about their immediate effectiveness: “It wasn’t necessarily the best track to judge these improvements.” It won’t be the best track either here in Monaco, but I hope that for the rest of the season, it will help us to get closer to Red Bull. We are 200% motivated to try to reach the same level as Red Bull and then, of course, surpass them. But first, we have to reach their level.
The characteristics of the Ferrari SF24 this year do not seem ideal for Monaco, known for its slow corners, a weakness of the car so far. Monaco is so unique in itself, in terms of setup, we are in quite an extreme situation, Leclerc explains. Nevertheless, he remains confident, hoping to get closer to the performances of Red Bull and McLaren, especially in qualifying. This weekend, I think it will be in line with what we have seen since the start of the season, so that means quite close to Red Bull and McLaren, especially in qualifying, he said.
Despite high expectations and the pressure to perform at home, Leclerc remains focused on his ultimate goal: victory. “The podium is not something that particularly excites me. Victory much more,” he said, emphasizing the importance of preparation and optimal performance to achieve this goal.
Weather, a key factor
The weather in Monaco is often unpredictable. This afternoon started with bright sunshine before a sudden storm hit the track and the paddock. Two hours later, there wasn’t a single cloud on the horizon. Charles Leclerc is well aware that the weather can play a crucial role in the results. “It depends on our competitiveness. Often, if we are not as fast as we would like, we prefer to have conditions that are a bit in between in the hope that it will turn in our favor.”
For Leclerc, the Monaco Grand Prix obviously has a special meaning: « It’s a very special and unique Grand Prix for me because I am at home, I sleep at home, these are streets I have taken by bus since I was a little boy to go to school and this makes it unique. » However, he specifies that he approaches it with the same rigor as the other races, despite slightly more intense preparation due to the unique characteristics of the urban circuit. « The risk taken by the driver will make a huge difference on Saturday », he explained.
Finally, the driver expressed his gratitude for the continued support of his family and Monegasque fans. « I have a lot of support every year and there is no more or less pressure as the years go by. »
The Monaco Grand Prix remains a highlight of the season for Charles Leclerc, who hopes that this year will be the one of long-awaited success on his home turf.
