Leclerc: "It's partly thanks to him that I'm at Ferrari"

Charles Leclerc can look back on the first day of the race weekend in Monaco positively. Where he experienced problems during the first free practice, a few hours later he was the fastest on the track. The driver hopes to set a good result in his home country.

The Ferrari driver is in his third season with the Italians. It was the wish of his good friend Jules Bianchi, who died a few years ago after a heavy crash. Leclerc often thinks back to Bianchi, with whom he celebrated a big party in 2014. Indeed, the late driver finished ninth in Monaco at the time. "We had a party after that race. It is among the moments I will never forget. It's partly thanks to him that I'm at Ferrari, even though he's no longer there," he told Sky Sports.

Bianchi used to take Leclerc to Maranello, the home of Ferrari. It was there that he became acquainted with the Italian racing stable. "He had a test day at the time and I had to stay in his car because I wasn't allowed in. What he told me, I remember very well. He said that if I kept working I would be allowed in one day too."

Max Verstappen set third and fourth fastest times on the first day in Monaco. His rival Lewis Hamilton came no further than fifth and third during the free practice sessions.