The 2022 F1 season has been a bittersweet year for Charles Leclerc. Despite commencing this year as a championship contender, the Monegasque ended up fighting for P2 in the driver’s championship. When asked to share the most difficult moment of 2022 after the conclusion of the season, he picked his home Grand Prix, the Monaco race at the Circuit de Monaco.

During the course of the season, Leclerc suffered from numerous faulty strategic calls by Ferrari, and Monaco GP was one of them. The Monegasque driver had high hopes of winning his home race but ended up in P4 due to a decisive blunder by the Italian team.

As per the French newspaper L’Équipe, Leclerc was asked what was the most difficult part of the 2022 season. Given there were two options between Silverstone and Monaco, the 25-year-old chose the latter. He conveyed, “It was really not easy but Monaco, for me, will remain the most painful moment. Another home Grand Prix that didn’t go well.” 

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“Unfortunately, something always happens to me in Monaco, and this year was no exception. Especially because we had managed to do the hardest part well, the start in the rain, but by making the wrong choices, we, unfortunately, lost the victory,” further asserted the Monegasque.

What happened with Charles Leclerc in Monaco Grand Prix?

Charles Leclerc started off this year’s Monaco Grand Prix on a high. He picked up pole position ahead of his Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz and the Red Bull duo of Sergio Perez and Max Verstappen.

However, the race day was different, as it turned out to be a rain-drenched outing. Leclerc started the race from P1 and kept the lead until the pit stop goof-up from his team.

The Monegasque was leading the race until he was called in for slick tires. As he was called in for pit, he had to wait behind his teammate Sainz as they were double stacking.

As a result, Leclerc had to pit twice in quick succession, lost time by the double stacking as well as two stops, and ultimately lost his position. This made the Ferrari driver lose his temper on the radio as well. In the end, the 25-year-old driver finished his race in P4 behind Sergio Perez, Carlos Sainz, and Max Verstappen.

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The Monaco Grand Prix has been somewhat cursed for Charles Leclerc. In his four starts in Monaco, he has had two DNFs in 2018 and 2019. He could not start the race in 2021 and missed the win in 2022. Monaco Grand Prix is a race that never truly went well for home boy Leclerc.