Formula 1: Charles Leclerc triumphs at Italian Grand Prix for ‘home’ double
Charles Leclerc, winner of the Monza Grand Prix © FIA Formula 1
Charles Leclerc made the Tifosi’s dreams come true at the Monza Grand Prix on Sunday, with an impressive performance in his SF-24. The Monegasque driver managed his hard tyres with brio, making them last longer than anyone else on the track. This mastery was strategically crucial to fight off the onslaught by the McLarens, driven by Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, who were unable to catch him before the chequered flag.
After an unforgettable career first Grand Prix win on home turf in Monaco, Charles Leclerc secured a resounding victory in his team’s home country, winning the two most important races of his season! As in Zandvoort the previous week, Scuderia Ferrari carried out its strategy to perfection.
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Despite forecasts that seemed to favour a double tyre change, the team opted for just one, a bold gamble that paid off. By adjusting the car’s aerodynamics to reduce downforce, Ferrari’s engineers enabled their drivers to make the most of one of the SF-24’s major assets: it’s gentle on the tyres. The strategic decision allowed Leclerc to maintain a steady pace throughout the race.
A high-octane start
At the start of the race, Charles Leclerc (P4) and Carlos Sainz (P5) took advantage of a mistake by George Russell at the first chicane to take third and fourth place respectively. Leclerc soon overtook Norris to move into second place, just behind Piastri, who had earlier made an aggressive move on his McLaren team-mate at the Roggia chicane. With everyone’s medium tyres suffering quickly, Leclerc’s pace dropped off and Norris took advantage to snatch second place from him.
However, the switch to hard tyres on lap 15 was to change the shape of Leclerc’s race. From that moment on, he managed his tyres with surgical precision, avoiding the second stop that the McLarens were forced to make. Back in the lead, Leclerc widened the gap on his pursuers, Piastri and Norris in particular, securing a well-deserved victory.
A bold strategy that paid off
It was a successful day for Ferrari, which chalked up 37 points in total, more than any of the other teams this weekend. In addition to Leclerc’s victory, Sainz finished a creditable fourth, giving the team a precious boost in the constructors race.
With this victory, Ferrari’s third of the season and Leclerc’s second at Monza, the Italian team has reduced the gap with the championship leader to 39 points.
“Monaco and Monza are the two races I’ve always wanted to win, because they are very special to me. A huge thank you to everyone in our team who made it possible today. You’ve done an incredible job in making this dream a reality, and we can all be proud of having achieved it together.
We implemented our strategy perfectly today and got ahead of our rivals, and we’ll be doing our utmost to maintain that momentum for the rest of the season, seizing every opportunity that comes our way,” Leclerc declared after the race.
Monza sees red, in a good way!
As is traditional when Ferrari wins at home, a human tide of red-clad Tifosi quickly invaded the track, turning the home straight into a gigantic open-air party. The cheering crowd celebrated the drivers, the team and the principal below the podium.
“What an incredible feeling. The first time I won at Monza in 2019, it was so emotional for me and for the whole team that I didn’t think a victory here could provide such emotions again, but today it did. To see our Tifosi celebrating with us is just incredible, and I’m so happy that we’ve been able to share this victory for a second time,” he added, delighted.
The party is just beginning for Ferrari, who are now preparing for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on the Baku circuit, another of Leclerc’s favourite playgrounds. The rest of the championship promises to be exciting, with the Ferrari team re-energised and ready to give it everything to catch up in the overall standings.
