Alex Albon Offered to Take Charles Leclerc to a Thai Monk to Lift the ‘Monaco Curse’

Alexander Albon of Williams and Charles Leclerc of Ferrari during press conference, ahead of the Formula 1 Grand Prix of Monaco

Charles Leclerc and Monaco — a love story that refused to feature a happy ending for more than seven years. Arguably the most popular figure from the small principality, all Leclerc wanted was to win a Grand Prix on the very streets he grew up in. But that just didn’t happen.

It gave birth to the phrase ‘Monaco Curse’ which only Leclerc was associated with. From engine issues to crashes to pit-stop mishaps — a world of misfortune would follow Leclerc every time he suited up for a race on the Mediterranean shores.

Then came the 2024 Monaco GP, a race extensively covered by Netflix’s crew, who were filming Drive to Survive.

A bunch of drivers, including Valtteri Bottas and George Russell, and journalist Will Buxton all came together in the fifth episode of season seven to highlight just how unlucky Leclerc had been in Monaco. Alex Albon joined in too, but unlike the others, he had an interesting solution to the problem.

Turn to religion.

“If he wants… I can always take him to a Thai temple and get a blessing. I know a good monk,” the Williams driver said with a smile.

Albon, most likely, wasn’t just joking. A practicing Buddhist, Albon has spoken about faith on numerous occasions, including once in 2024 when he revealed that he visited a temple in Milton Keynes before the Las Vegas GP to pray for a change in fortune after a run of bad luck during his campaign with Williams.

Whether Leclerc actually went to a Thai temple with Albon, he didn’t reveal on the show. But the Monaco GP weekend in 2024 — for the first time ever in his life — ended on a euphoric note.

Curse or misfortune, Leclerc overcame it all

While most drivers in the episode went ahead and called Leclerc’s Monaco woes a ‘curse’, his friend, Pierre Gasly refused to take that road. He simply labeled it as ‘misfortune’, which suggested that victory was bound to come, sooner rather than later.

And it did in 2024 itself.

Leclerc drove a brilliant race and dominated from the start to the finish to stand on the top step of the podium in the streets of Monte Carlo. It was a huge relief for the Monegasque driver, who also never believed in any curse.

“I really don’t believe in bad luck or curse,” Leclerc said in the same Drive to Survive episode. “Even though I don’t believe in it, I hate hearing it.” 

Thankfully for Leclerc, he won’t have to anymore. Whatever curse or misfortune there was next to his name in Monaco has been lifted, and he will suit up for the prestigious race in 2025 as its most recent winner. Who says no to a Leclerc Monaco back-to-back?

Post Edited By: Aishwary Gaonkar
Alex Albon Charles Leclerc Drive to Survive Monaco GP

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Somin Bhattacharjee

Basketball Editor Somin Bhattacharjee first discovered the game during the 2014 FIBA World Cup. Not long after, he turned to the NBA and found himself drawn to the Golden State Warriors — right at the start of Stephen Curry’s rise. Over time, the admiration turned into full-blown support for the team, one that continues even as the Curry era approaches its twilight. A true hoophead, Somin also follows EuroLeague basketball closely and enjoys exploring the game beyond the NBA. Though holding a bachelor's degree in marketing, Somin discovered his true calling in writing. Since 2021, he has penned over 3,000 articles for TheSportsRush, covering everything from breaking news to sharp opinion pieces and detailed exclusives. He thrives on writing about in-game moments and the reactions that make basketball a uniquely emotional sport. Beyond basketball, Somin plays different sports including soccer and remains a passionate fan of Spanish football giants Real Madrid

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