Home win in Monza: Leclerc makes the Tifosi go crazy

With a bold tire strategy, Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc gave the Scuderia an unexpected Formula 1 home victory at the Italian Grand Prix.

September 01, 2024

From: dpa/dl

The Monegasque duped long-time leader Oscar Piastri and pole-setter Lando Norris with a one-stop strategy in Monza on Sunday and won just ahead of the McLaren duo. Norris reduced his deficit in the World Championship to Max Verstappen in the Red Bull, who finished sixth, to 62 points with eight races to go before the end of the season.

In the constructors' championship, McLaren is now only eight points behind the Austrian-British racing team Red Bull Racing. The Papaya team gave up what they thought was a sure one-two on the high-speed circuit just outside Milan with a two-stop strategy, while Ferrari gambled successfully and caused ecstasy among the Tifosi in the stands. It was the Scuderia's third win of the season.

Charles Leclerc is celebrating.

"I won the two important races this year. Winning for Ferrari here in Monza is special. Thank you to all the Tifosi for the incredible support," said an emotional Leclerc, who had also triumphed at his home race in Monaco this year. This is the 20th victory for Ferrari in Monza. "Mamma mia," Leclerc radioed to the pits after crossing the finish line: "Grazie, grazie, grazie." It was the seventh Grand Prix victory of his career. "It's unbelievable," he said amid the deafening noise of the Italian fans.

Verstappen and Norris dissatisfied

This was certainly not how Norris had imagined the start. He got off to a good start for his standards and defended his lead in the first chicane. But before, or rather in, the second tight combination of corners, his team-mate Piastri attacked. A tough wheel-to-wheel duel and the Australian pulled ahead.

“Mamma mia” Charles Leclerc on the radio after the victory

Norris struggled with his car. An opportunity that Leclerc did not miss. Much to the delight of the Italian fans, the Monegasque in the Ferrari also overtook Norris. He had already benefited from a braking error by George Russell in the Mercedes, who had already dropped from third place on the grid to seventh place after just a few meters.

Things are not going well for Max Verstappen and Red Bull. © APA/afp / MASSIMO PINCA

The past eight races have shown that pole position - Norris' fifth - is no guarantee of victory in Monza. The driver who started from position one only won twice on the track in the Royal Park. Unlike Norris and the others before him, Verstappen started on hard tires and not mediums.

It also meant that he would be able to stay out longer until the first pit stop. And that's how it was. In order to get past Leclerc, McLaren ordered Norris into the pits as quickly as possible. The 24-year-old, who had spoken quite openly in Monza about his ongoing nervousness, which means he can hardly eat or drink on Sundays, braked hard on the way to the pit lane and hit a bollard.