Leclerc prophet at home: Ferrari jubilation after Vettel in 2017

Is the Red Bull domination coming to an end? We don't know, but today certainly marks the celebration of a personal dream, of a team and of a nation. That of Monaco, which hosts a unique, special, controversial race. It has mourned several champions but it has also celebrated days that have truly left their mark on history, like this one. And today the undisputed, unique, desired and acclaimed protagonist was finally Leclerc, holding the lead from start to finish. Leaving behind a long series of misfortunes on this very track, which had never seen him a winner even in Formula 1. And where, taken by too much enthusiasm, he had once even made a 'fool of himself' by destroying a rare vintage red car of inestimable value.  

Sunday in the annals, it is true, and yet it had started badly. Three quarters of an hour of waiting. A nasty accident at the start between Perez and Magnussen, with a Red Bull completely destroyed by contact on the climb towards the Casino. And not much further on, a 'lifting' of an Alpine just before the tunnel also made the first lap eventful and irregular, so much so that a red flag was immediately shown to allow the necessary repairs to the Beau Rivage barriers.

At the second start, again from a standing start, no irregularities. Everyone behind quietly, very few overtaking in the race. Anxiety and the fear of ruining the day prevailed in the drivers' minds: no more 'catching' and more caution on the part of all drivers. No one excluded. No gambling. On the other hand, it was evident even at the end of the race that many did their 'calculations', including Leclerc: with little petrol, even though he had a clear path, he avoided going for the fastest lap precisely in the knowledge that he would not have to bitterly regret it.

So the beautiful weekend on the Côte d'Azur ended with a half miracle. On Saturday, in fact, Charles Leclerc had already distinguished himself with a fine pole position. Then in the race he never got caught. Including this edition, there are no less than 33 times that someone who started from pole or at least from the front row has won. For the same reason, it also went well for Piastri, unsparing pursuer of the Ferrarista throughout the day: never for a moment did he hesitate, tailing the Ferrarista, perhaps hoping, in vain, for a breakdown or an unforeseen event. The same goes for Sainz: also on the podium and in turn closely marked by Lando Norris' McLaren. With the certainty of having played a good team game and having risked losing a lot, since at the start the Spaniard had a puncture due to contact with the McLaren.

After the reds and oranges (indeed, for the occasion, the Woking cars adapted the graphics to the yellow-green of Ayrton Senna), far behind, a 'sandwich' of Mercedes, with Russell managing to keep Verstappen behind for the entire race. What the world champion was doing in a sandwich, trapped as he was by the two drivers of the three-pointed star, is unclear. Except for the fact, partially sufficient to explain but not to justify it, of having seen a bad crash by his teammate. Not daring to advance positions probably in order not to risk it is certainly a disappointing result from the point of view of spectacle but very reasonable in order not to disappoint the team and sponsors too much. Nevertheless, this conservative 'policy' has excluded him, for once, from any spotlight. Calculating, certainly, but far from being a 'champion'.

True, cars cost money and points are precious, even if they are few. But in the career of a driver, winning at Monaco is something special, unique, as rare as a precious pearl. And perhaps Verstappen at this track will struggle to break a record: that of Senna's five pole positions.  

A finishing order with six similar drivers in qualifying and in the race had only happened in Singapore and Belgium. Never in history has it been thought possible to reach ten. But the red flag on the first lap removed the variable of the compulsory pit stop and thus also the possibility of special strategies. There are those who would say it was a boring race, a 'horse race', but on the other hand it is hard to complain about a framed day. Yes, because Leclerc really deserves this victory. Just as the whole Principality has been longing for it: in fact, one cannot remember Ranieri in tears on the podium, because no one in his family had ever had the honour of awarding a compatriot on the highest step.