Sébastien Ogier after his victory in Monte-Carlo: "Why not leave while I'm on top?"

You dreamed of winning the Monte Carlo once. This is your 10th success…

I'm probably still dreaming. It's hard to express what I feel, but it's clear that I'm very happy.

Was this edition special compared to previous ones?

The weekend was again very demanding. Every time I crossed the finish line of this rally, I still feel that the event we just finished was the hardest I have ever competed in. The winter conditions may be less present, but that doesn't make Monte Carlo any easier. This year, there was so much pollution on the stages and constant changes of grip. The suspense lasted until Sunday morning. We had different tyre choices and we weren't sure if it would work. We can be satisfied with this start to the season. It's a perfect result for the team with maximum points.

How do you judge Hankook's debut?

It added a bit more spice to the race. It required extreme concentration from us. I'm going to sleep well in the coming days. (Laughs) There are definitely opportunities for improvement, but it wasn't bad for a first rally. I say bravo to Hankook. There were few tyre problems during the event. I think punctures were rare and personally I think that's very good because in recent seasons, I've been regularly unhappy with having this type of problem often, even if it has improved a lot during the Pirelli era. We're going to talk to Hankook to see what they can still do better for the future. In my opinion, it's a good start for the WRC.

You were very moved at the arrival of the Power Stage…

Beyond the fact that this is my 10th success at Monte Carlo, I especially thought about my uncle who passed away last year (a few days before the rally. Editor's note). He was the one with whom I started motorsport. We started this adventure together and I am sure that he would be very proud - or rather that he is very proud - today. During this rally, I think that I was lucky and that his lucky star was watching over me.

You also mentioned the possibility that this edition could be your last?

I don't know. I just want to enjoy these moments. It's an incredible run with 13 consecutive podiums here, including 9 wins. At some point, I'll have to call it a day. My career is more behind me than ahead, so why not leave while I'm on top? I still have races planned for this year, but I don't have a plan for 2026. Of course, if I manage to stay at this level, it's a shame to stop, but on the other hand, I'm close to the end.

Comments collected by L. Rocci

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