Unencumbered By Past Failures In Monaco, Leclerc: I Didn't Think So

Charles Leclerc (Instagram @charles_leclerc)

JAKARTA - Charles Leclerc carried the burden of the host public's expectations at the Monaco Grand Prix this weekend. However, the Ferrari driver admitted that he did not feel the pressure to appear in his hometown.

Of the five races, both in Formula 2 and Formula 1, Leclerc has never completed a race on the highway circuit he has known throughout his life.

Leclerc's misfortune even continued when he failed to start at last year's Monaco GP, after securing pole position for Ferrari.

When asked about his record without finishing at home ahead of this year's race, Leclerc replied: "I don't think so".

"Obviously, it's not the most profitable track for me in general but this is life, things like that happen, it's part of the sport of racing and sometimes things don't happen the way you want them to," said Leclerc.

"I will take the same approach as I did in the first few races of 2022 because it has proven successful so far.

The 24-year-old led the drivers' standings by a 19-point margin in Spain last week, before a power unit malfunction prevented him from winning at Barcelona.

Failing to finish in Catalunya, Leclerc found himself replaced by Red Bull's Max Verstappen, who won in Monaco last year, who are now six points clear at the top of the table.

However, Leclerc is optimistic that the problems at Barcelona will not be repeated.

"To be honest, I don't feel the added pressure of greater responsibility this year than in previous years," he said.

"Last year too and the year before that it was also my responsibility, we, to return to the top bearing a big name like Ferrari's.

"I will try and focus on the job and believe that when we do our job perfectly this weekend we have a chance to win this year."

Verstappen has won the last three races, but has yet to climb to the top of the podium for the fourth time in a row in Formula 1.

Like Leclerc, he also had less successive races in the city-state before winning in 2021.

"My race record in Monaco was not very good but in the end I won there last year and there was a great relief when I crossed the finish," said the Dutchman.

Mercedes and seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton could also pose a threat this weekend after they showed signs of improving the performance of the W13 car in Barcelona.

"Monaco is not a fun track for us, and slow corners are not our biggest strength this season as we experienced in Barcelona, but we have seen so far this season anything can happen," said Mercedes boss Toto Wolff.