Charles Leclerc delivered an extraordinary victory for Ferrari at the Italian Grand Prix, triumphing over the McLaren duo of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris in a thrilling race at Monza.
Ferrari’s bold decision to switch to a one-stop strategy mid-race proved pivotal, allowing Leclerc to leapfrog the McLarens, who stuck to the more conventional two-stop plan.
As the race entered its final laps, Leclerc found himself under immense pressure from the fast-closing McLarens but managed to hold them off, securing a stunning win by just 2.6 seconds and sending the tifosi into rapturous celebrations.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen could only muster a sixth-place finish, while Norris cut into his championship lead by eight points, reducing the gap to 62 with eight races remaining, thanks to setting the fastest lap before the checkered flag. McLaren’s strong performance now puts them just eight points behind Red Bull in the constructors’ championship.
The race initially seemed set for a McLaren one-two after locking out the front row, with Piastri leading Norris early on. However, Norris slipped to third after Leclerc passed him at the second chicane. In response, McLaren attempted an undercut during their first pit stops, which initially worked as Norris emerged ahead of Leclerc.
However, as the race progressed, McLaren’s tire wear issues forced them into a second pit stop, allowing Leclerc to inherit the lead. Ferrari took a calculated risk by sticking to their one-stop strategy, which paid off as Leclerc held off the McLarens to clinch one of the most memorable victories of the season.
Leclerc, overwhelmed with emotion after securing his second Monza victory for Ferrari, said, “An incredible feeling. The emotions in the final laps were just like 2019. Monaco and Monza are the two races I want to win every year, and to have won them both this year is so special.”
On the other hand, McLaren was left to reflect on what might have been. Piastri admitted that losing out on the win “hurts” and acknowledged that the team got their strategy wrong. “In hindsight, yes, we should have gone for a one-stop. Today we got it wrong, and it hurts,” Piastri said.
Norris, though disappointed with third, managed to gain valuable points on Verstappen, keeping his title hopes alive.
Meanwhile, behind Sainz, who finished fourth, Lewis Hamilton took fifth place, well ahead of Verstappen, who endured a difficult race. Red Bull’s decision to start on hard tires, unlike the rest of the top 10, backfired, and Verstappen’s slow pit stop further compromised his race.
George Russell finished seventh after an early incident damaged his car, while Sergio Perez, Alex Albon, and Kevin Magnussen rounded out the points positions. Magnussen, however, faces a potential ban for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix after accumulating 12 penalty points due to a collision with Pierre Gasly.
Reported By BBC Sports.
