Charles Leclerc secured a rare win for Ferrari at the Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix in Monza on Sunday, delighting home fans with a bold one-stop strategy that paid off. Leclerc managed to hold off Oscar Piastri and his McLaren teammate Lando Norris, despite dealing with heavily degrading tyres, reported AP.
While McLaren, Mercedes, and Red Bull opted for a two-stop strategy due to the fast pace of the opening stint, Ferrari took a bold approach with just one pitstop. This gamble paid off, aided by Ferrari's strong tyre management and a flawless drive from Leclerc. When McLaren realized Ferrari wouldn't pit again, they instructed Piastri to push hard.
With eight laps to go, Leclerc maintained a lead of over 11 seconds over Piastri, who had passed Sainz, whose front-left tyre was wearing out despite pitting later than Leclerc. Leclerc's pace held steady, and despite a late push from Piastri, he secured the win by 2.6 seconds.
Ferrari made the strategic decision to only pit once during the race, a move that proved effective for Leclerc. The team's nine upgrades also contributed to the car's performance. The passionate tifosi were ecstatic, cheering Leclerc on each lap and erupting when he crossed the finish line 2.664 seconds ahead of Piastri.
"Ferrari fans were on their feet, stamping and roaring Leclerc's every lap." Polesitter Norris finished 6.153 seconds behind Leclerc, while championship leader Max Verstappen came in sixth in his Red Bull. Leclerc's win marked Ferrari's second victory at its home track in the past 14 races. The first was also by Leclerc in 2019.
Before this win, Ferrari's best recent finishes in Monza included a second place for Leclerc in 2022 and a third for Carlos Sainz last year.
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