In a stunning turn of events at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza, Charles Leclerc secured a surprise victory for Ferrari, employing a clever one-stop strategy that caught their rivals off guard. Leclerc’s win, his second at Monza, was described as a ‘driver and strategic masterful performance’, showcasing Ferrari’s resurgence in the championship.McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris completed the podium in second and third places respectively, continuing the team’s impressive run of 12 consecutive podium finishes since the Chinese Grand Prix in April. However, their two-stop strategy, criticized by Lewis Hamilton as ‘killing their tires’, ultimately cost them the win.Red Bull and Max Verstappen faced significant challenges, with the reigning world champion finishing a disappointing sixth. Verstappen expressed concerns about Red Bull’s recent struggles, warning that both championships ‘absolutely will be under pressure’ if their performance doesn’t improve. Team principal Christian Horner acknowledged a ‘massive balance problem’ that the team is working to resolve.The race results have dramatically tightened the championship standings. Lando Norris has moved up to second place in the drivers’ championship, 62 points behind Verstappen. In the constructors’ championship, Ferrari has closed to within 31 points of McLaren, while McLaren has narrowed the gap to leaders Red Bull.Despite the victory, Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur remains cautious about the team’s prospects for the remainder of the season, noting that Monza’s specific characteristics played to their strengths. As the Formula 1 circus moves to the next race in Baku, all eyes will be on whether Ferrari can maintain their momentum, if McLaren can challenge for wins, and if Red Bull can overcome their current struggles.
Key points
- Charles Leclerc won the Italian Grand Prix for Ferrari using a clever one-stop strategy.
- McLaren secured second and third places, continuing their streak of podium finishes.
- Max Verstappen struggled to sixth place, expressing concerns about Red Bull’s recent performance issues.
- The championship battle has tightened, with Lando Norris now second in the drivers’ standings and McLaren closing the gap to Red Bull in the constructors’ championship.
Contradictionsđź‘ľWhile most sources praise Ferrari’s strategy, Lewis Hamilton criticized McLaren’s approach, saying they were ‘killing their tires’, which contrasts with the overall positive narrative about McLaren’s performance.
