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Charles Leclerc delivered an extraordinary win for Ferrari at the Italian Grand Prix, holding off a late charge from McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris to secure his second victory at Monza. The victory was particularly sweet for Leclerc, who managed to win despite Ferrari’s decision to switch to a one-stop strategy mid-race, which proved decisive against McLaren’s two-stop approach.
Leclerc’s triumph was sealed with a narrow 2.6-second lead over Piastri, sending the passionate tifosi at Monza into a frenzy. Meanwhile, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who has dominated the season, could only manage a sixth-place finish, allowing Norris to close the championship gap by eight points to 62.
Starting from pole position, McLaren initially looked set for a one-two finish, with Piastri leading Norris after an impressive first-lap overtake. However, McLaren’s decision to pit both drivers for a second time allowed Ferrari to take a gamble on a one-stop strategy. This risky move paid off, with Leclerc hanging on for the win, while his teammate Carlos Sainz finished fourth behind the McLarens.
Leclerc’s victory marks his second at Monza, having previously won in 2019, and he expressed the overwhelming emotions of winning in front of the home crowd once again. “An incredible feeling,” said Leclerc. “The emotions in the final laps—just like 2019. Incredible.”
McLaren, on the other hand, were left rueing their strategy decisions. Piastri, who finished second, acknowledged the pain of losing out on what seemed like a likely win. “In hindsight, yes [we should have gone for a one-stop]. Today we got it wrong,” he admitted.
Despite the disappointment, Norris gained valuable points in his pursuit of Verstappen in the championship race. He finished third, but remains focused on the task ahead, needing to outscore Verstappen by an average of eight points per race to challenge for the title.
The race saw Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton finish fifth, while Verstappen’s struggles continued as he finished sixth, well off the pace. His teammate Sergio Perez could only manage seventh after a challenging race, leaving Red Bull with questions about their recent dip in form.
The final points positions were claimed by Williams’ Alex Albon in ninth and Haas’ Kevin Magnussen in tenth. However, Magnussen’s race was marred by a collision with Pierre Gasly, resulting in the Dane accumulating 12 penalty points and facing a potential ban for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
As the championship battle intensifies, Ferrari’s victory at Monza serves as a reminder of the unpredictability of Formula 1, with Leclerc and the Scuderia delivering a performance that will be remembered for years to come.
