Congratulations, Charles Leclerc!

May 26, 2024

The 2024 Monaco Grand Prix got off to an insane start. There were three incidents on the first lap — each would have been race-defining in any other year. Then things settled into a rhythm, with only a minor blip of interest for the remaining laps. I was still glued to my screen with tense excitement. I have never been this happy for the top 10 positions stay unchanged.

I got into F1 mid-season in 2020 because of Drive to Survive. I’d followed F1 from afar before then via the coverage on Ars Technica. Formula 1 cars are effectively rocket ships on four wheels, and they generate a huge amount of data every race. This was interesting, but I wasn’t really engaged until Drive to Survive showcased the spectacle, strategy, and the stories.

Today was the end of a huge storyline. One filled with disappointment and heartbreak. I’m glad it was a happy ending. Congrats, Charles! It’s been a long time coming, and it’s well deserved.