Reprieve For Charles Leclerc At Hungary

The recently completed 2024 Hungarian Grand Prix was a massive event especially for McLaren. For the first time in several years put together McLaren ended the very contest with a brilliant 1-2. And that was after their drivers had locked out the front row a day earlier at the end of the qualifying.

Having said that, the most wholesome part for the famed British constructor was the win earned by their young driver, Oscar Piastri. What was particularly exceptional was the very fact that Piastri, contesting in just his second season in the sport, was able to take the checkered flag for the first time in his career as a winner. Moreover, securing a maiden F1 win in just his 35th Grand Prix race

But the big question is, was that the only memorable moment from the Hungaroring, the widely-noted home of the Hungarian Grand Prix?

Fact be mentioned, upon the conclusion of the 2024 race at Hungary, Charles Leclerc of Ferrari would have breathed a sigh of relief. And in some ways, Leclerc was the sentimental winner of the driver of the day, even if that award didn’t theoretically belong to him where popular voting stood.

Here is why.

For starters, Leclerc, who began the contest behind his teammate Sainz at the Hungaroring, actually ended up beating his Spanish teammate. A P4 in the end in comparison to Sainz’s struggling sixth was confirmation that the Monegasque was up for a fight and ready to prove his mettle.

But having said that, perhaps nothing could be as important purely from Charles Leclerc’s point of view than the very fact that the race at Hungary saw the driver of the SF 24 #16 finally registering a personal best race result since his win at Monaco.

Lest it is forgotten, Charles Leclerc’s race results following his widely-acclaimed and memorable win on his home turf at Monaco didn’t really cut an imposing figure; a race retirement at Canada was followed by a fifth at Spain, an eleventh at Austria and not to forget, a disappointing fourteenth at Silverstone.

Surely, he is yet to end his podium drought since the famed streets of Monte Carlo but at Hungaroring, he was fast and served a fine demonstration of tyre management, holding on well to score twelve useful points for himself and his team.

Charles Leclerc’s significant moment at Hungary

In so doing, in a refreshing change of guard where it came to point scoring for Ferrari, Leclerc led the way ahead of Sainz, the latter being in fine nick, of lately.

In the contests that lie ahead, Charles Leclerc, who still finds himself third on the Drivers’ Standings, would certainly like to fight for a win, and if not, then another podium.

In some ways, Hungaroring also fetched an outcome that Ferrari cannot ill-afford going forwards; they are now outpaced by McLaren on the Constructors’ Standings; the British stable is currently second with the Italian giants on third.

So what can the pair of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz do as F1 shall now resume its action at Spa-Francorchamps in the next few days?