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Decryption: how Leclerc lost everything in six rounds in Monaco

Starting in pole position, Charles Leclerc led the Monaco Grand Prix until lap 16. But a poor strategy from Ferrari and annoying latecomers deprived the Monegasque of victory in just a few laps.

Published on 30/05/2022 à 18:02

Dorian Grangier

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Decryption: how Leclerc lost everything in six rounds in Monaco

In six laps, Charles Leclerc lost victory in Monaco © Julien Delfosse / DPPI

Sometimes all it takes is one bad decision to turn everything upside down. Charles Leclerc had the bitter experience on Sunday in Monaco. Starting in pole position and leading the race from the start, the Monegasque finally seemed to be able to shine on his home soil. The rain, which had delayed the departure for almost an hour, had finally stopped. The track dried quickly as the laps went by. Before the 16th lap, a few drivers at the back of the grid like Pierre Gasly had fitted intermediate tires. The times started to fall... and that's when things accelerated among the leaders. 

Lap 16: Pérez stops first

Standings at the start of the round:
1) Leclerc – 2) Sainz – 3) Pérez – 4) Verstappen - 5) Norris

Seeing Pierre Gasly's amazing lap times on his intermediate tires, Red Bull takes the gamble of bringing Pérez into the pits. The Mexican is the first to stop among the leaders. Before arriving in the pit lane, Checo is 3 seconds behind Sainz and 8 seconds behind Leclerc. He puts on intermediate shoes and comes out 27 seconds behind Leclerc. 

Lap 17: Prevarications at Ferrari

Standings at the start of the round:
1) Leclerc – 2) Sainz – 3) Verstappen – 4) Norris – 5) Pérez

At Ferrari, we wonder what strategy to adopt. Two possibilities: cover Pérez's strategy by switching to intermediate tires on the next lap, or continue and try to switch directly to dry tires later. 

Initially, Ferrari wants to try the first option… but with Sainz, who is first asked to return. The Spaniard responds to his engineer by asking him if it is not better to wait and switch directly to slick tires a little later.

Ferrari then changes its mind and asks Sainz to stay out, while Leclerc also continues. Behind, Pérez comes back by seconds. Coming out behind Norris, he won't even need to fight because the Briton will stop at the end of the lap too. 17th lap: the gap with Leclerc is less than 25 seconds.

Lap 18: Leclerc and Verstappen respond, Pérez takes the lead

Standings at the start of the round:
1) Leclerc – 2) Sainz – 3) Verstappen – 4) Pérez – 5) Russell

At the start of lap 18, Charles Leclerc calls out to his team on the radio: “The inters would be much faster. » After a few seconds, Ferrari and Leclerc agree to stop at the end of the lap. The gap with Sergio Pérez has fallen to less than 20 seconds: the Mexican's time on intermediates is 7 seconds faster than Leclerc's last lap on wet tires!

Ferrari puts intermediate tires on Charles Leclerc, who emerges far behind Pérez, 5 seconds away! Max Verstappen follows the Monegasque into the pits and comes out 4th. Carlos Sainz is the only one left on the track and wants to try to switch directly to dry tires.

Round 19: Sainz continues his effort, Leclerc already beaten

Standings at the start of the round:
1) Sainz – 2) Pérez – 3) Leclerc – 4) Verstappen – 5) Russell

Leclerc is therefore behind Pérez after his stop, the poleman has already been trapped by the Red Bull driver. In front, Carlos Sainz remained on the track on wet tires but Pérez caught up with him by 5 seconds per lap. No more choice for Ferrari: we must bet on a single stop for Sainz. 

Lap 20: The latecomer Albon hampers Leclerc 

Standings at the start of the round:
1) Sainz – 2) Pérez – 3) Leclerc – 4) Verstappen – 5) Russell

In the peloton, the first drivers return to the pits to put on dry tires. The route is definitely dry, but the pit exit lane is still very wet. The exit turn is therefore very slow.

Installed in 2nd position, Leclerc was hampered for almost a lap by a latecomer, Alexander albon. The pilot Williams, who had just stopped, did not move away despite the blue flags. Leclerc gets annoyed and angry on the radio, losing a few precious seconds in the process. Albon ends up moving away on the start-finish straight.

Lap 21: Disaster at Ferrari 

Standings at the start of the round:
1) Sainz – 2) Pérez – 3) Leclerc – 4) Verstappen – 5) Russell

Most of the drivers return to the pits and put on hard tires for dry tracks. Ferrari decides it is the right time to stop the leader, Carlos Sainz. The Spaniard stops to put on the hard tires.

What followed was a dramatic sequence for Charles Leclerc. His engineer, Xavier Marcos Padros, first asked him to return to put on slicks. The Monegasque complies… but Ferrari retracts a few seconds later: “Stay on track, stay on track!” ». Too late, Leclerc is already in the pit lane. Problem: Sainz is still there to change the tires!

The Monegasque then immediately understands what is happening and begins to curse while waiting for long seconds for the mechanics to release the car by Sainz. For their part, Red Bull is not rushing. The Austrian team knows that the exit lap of the two Ferraris will be slow, due to the wet trajectory in the pit lane. Pérez and Verstappen continue for one more lap. Carlos Sainz comes out 19 seconds behind Pérez, Leclerc comes out 5th behind Norris. A disaster for the Monegasque.

Lap 22: Pérez comes out on top, Verstappen passes Leclerc

Standings at the start of the round:
1) Pérez – 2) Verstappen – 3) Leclerc – 4) Norris – 5) Leclerc

One lap later, Red Bull made a double stop with Pérez and Verstappen. The two drivers come in to put on the hard tires. Sergio Pérez takes advantage of a slow exit lap from Carlos Sainz (embarrassed by Latifs before the tunnel) to gain the advantage over the Ferrari. Behind, Max Verstappen does the same with Charles Leclerc and climbs to the third step of the podium.

Red Bull has achieved a real masterstroke in terms of strategy. On the other hand, Ferrari is beaten, victim of a succession of bad choices and disruptive elements in the race. Charles Leclerc, solid first before the 16th lap, found himself 4th six laps later, without having made the slightest error. A massive blow for the one who hoped, finally, to win at home, in Monaco.

Final classification:
1) Pérez – 2) Sainz – 3) Verstappen – 4) Leclerc – 5) Russell

ALSO READ > Sergio Pérez’s masterstroke in Monaco

Dorian Grangier

A young journalist nostalgic for the motorsport of yesteryear. Raised on the exploits of Sébastien Loeb and Fernando Alonso.

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