Ferrari unleashed a strategy masterclass to ensure a huge home victory on home soil courtesy of Charles Leclerc. It looked as though Oscar Piastri and McLaren had it in the bag, but Ferrari and Leclerc made the one-stop work, as Leclerc took the chequered flag at Monza and sent the tifosi into raptures. Piastri and McLaren team-mate Lando Norris completed the podium.
Red Bull went with the alternate strategy, Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez starting on hard tyres in P7 and P8 respectively while the top six, heading by polesitter Norris, went with mediums.
Norris, it seemed, had banished the talk of start demons, but by the della Roggia chicane, team-mate Piastri forced his way into the lead, with Leclerc helping himself at the first Lesmo to dump Norris to P3.
By Lap 14, Norris had closed back within DRS range of Leclerc, but pitted on the following lap for hard tyres, clipping the bollard on entry to the pit lane for good measure. Leclerc was in for hard tyres on Lap 16, with Norris and McLaren successfully pulling off the undercut and clearing Leclerc. Piastri pitted from the lead on the next lap for the hard rubber and retained that crucial track position over Norris and Leclerc, who was far from pleased about being undercut.
Red Bull committed to a two-stop with Verstappen by pitting him on Lap 23 for another set of hards, but a six-second stop did him no favours. It was a more respectable 2.8 seconds for Perez to take on another set of hards, with Verstappen narrowly staying ahead of his team-mate.
Norris made his second stop on Lap 33 – shortly after an off at the della Roggia chicane – for hard tyres. Lap 39 and Piastri boxed for his new set of hards, though a slow stop had brought Norris back into play.
However, Ferrari had the last laugh, springing a strategy surprise with the one-stop, which sealed the win for Leclerc on home soil for Ferrari, sending the tifosi wild.
F1 2024 Drivers’ Championship Standings
Max Verstappen's lead over Lando Norris has been cut down to 62 points after the Italian Grand Prix. Leclerc sits a comfortable third after returning to winning ways at Monza.
F1 2024 Constructors' Championship Standings
Ferrari's Home Advantage
Leclerc's victory was a welcome sight for Ferrari fans, who were eager to see their team return to the top of the grid. The Monegasque driver's performance was particularly impressive, as he was able to manage his tires and stay ahead of the competition throughout the race. Leclerc's win was a testament to Ferrari's ability to execute a winning strategy and to the team's determination to bounce back from a difficult start to the season.
McLaren's Disappointing Turn
McLaren's strategy was a bit of a head-scratcher. It seemed that the team was unsure of how to manage the race and ended up making several questionable decisions that cost them the win. This is a concern for McLaren, as they are still in contention for the championship. The team will need to figure out their strategy game if they want to catch Verstappen.
Verstappen's Lead Shrinks
The Italian Grand Prix was a significant blow to Verstappen's championship hopes. While he still maintains a comfortable lead in the standings, the gap has closed considerably. This means that the championship is still very much up for grabs, and Verstappen will need to be on top of his game if he wants to retain his crown.
Looking Ahead
The next race is the Singapore Grand Prix, which will be a very different challenge for the teams. The race will be held at night, and the track is very tight and twisty. This will likely be a great race to watch, and it will be interesting to see if Verstappen can regain his momentum or if Leclerc and Norris will continue their charge.
