Charles Leclerc delivered a remarkable performance at the 2024 Italian Grand Prix to secure victory at the legendary Monza circuit after edging McLaren duo Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris.
The Ferrari driver’s triumph at the Italian Grand Prix marked a significant moment for the Scuderia, as they celebrated their first home win since 2019 in front of the passionate Tifosi.
The race was a testament to Leclerc’s exceptional tire management and strategic acumen, as he executed a flawless one-stop strategy to outpace his rivals. The masterful performance saw him fend off strong challenges from Piastri and Norris, who finished second and third, respectively.
From the outset, the race was charged with excitement as pole sitter Norris launched off the line with impressive speed while his McLaren teammate quickly challenged for the lead, creating a thrilling dynamic between the two drivers.
As the two approached the first chicane Piastri executed a bold maneuver overtaking Norris and taking control of the race. Meanwhile, Leclerc who began the race in fourth position seized the opportunity to capitalize on the battle between the McLaren drivers, moving up to second place shortly thereafter.
The early laps of the race saw intense competition among the top drivers. Piastri initially established a lead of about seven-tenths of a second over Leclerc, who was closely followed by Norris.
Leclerc’s Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz was running in fourth, while Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, both of whom started further down the grid were battling in the midfield. The reigining world champion could not hide his frustration over Hamilton’s driving, which led to some early tension on the track.
As the race progressed, the strategies began to unfold as McLaren team opted for a two-stop strategy believing that it would provide them with the best chance to maintain competitive lap times. In contrast, Ferrari decided to implement a one-stop strategy for Leclerc which would prove to be a game-changer.
By lap 20, the first round of pit stops began, with Norris and Piastri both diving into the pits for their first tire changes. Leclerc, however, stayed out on track, demonstrating confidence in his tire management and race pace.
This decision allowed Leclerc to gain crucial time on the McLaren drivers, who were now in the pits. When Piastri rejoined the track, he found himself behind Leclerc, who had yet to stop.
By lap 39, Piastri made his second pit stop, but it was not as quick as he had hoped, allowing Leclerc to maintain his lead.
As the race entered its final stages, the Monesgaque’s strategy began to pay off and with just ten laps remaining, he held a commanding lead of approximately 15 seconds over Piastri, who was now running in second place. Meanwhile, Norris who had also pitted for a second time was battling to regain positions but was unable to catch up to the leaders.
In the closing laps, Leclerc demonstrated exceptional control and focus, crossing the finish line with a time of 1 hour, 14 minutes, and 40.727 seconds, securing victory by a margin of 2.664 seconds over Piastri.
Lando Norris rounded out the podium in third place, finishing 6.153 seconds behind Leclerc while also setting the fastest lap of the race, which earned him an additional championship point.
Carlos Sainz finished fourth, contributing valuable points to Ferrari’s constructors’ championship campaign, while Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen rounded out the top six.
Russell made ground to take seventh place after wrecking his car’s right front wing endplate during lap one battle with Piastri. Meanwhile, Alex Albon narrowly beat Kevin Magnussen’s Haas to secure his first points after Williams made its first significant upgrade of the season as Fernando Alonso rounded out the points.
However, Magnussen was hit with a 10-second penalty and two penalty points on his license after hitting Pierre Gasly’s Alpine at the second chicane, which, considering his current points total, will result in a race ban.
