Charles Leclerc took a sensational victory that sent the Tifosi ablaze.

The Monegasque driver pulled off a daring one-stop strategy, holding off the relentless McLarens to secure a memorable win at Ferrari’s home turf.

Starting from pole, it was Lando Norris who initially took the lead, only to be overtaken by Oscar Piastri at the second chicane. The young Australian held onto the top spot for much of the race, making it look like McLaren might be on course for a dominant finish.

But in typical Ferrari fashion, the team decided to roll the dice. With most of the field committing to a two-stop strategy, Ferrari opted for a risky one-stop approach for both Leclerc and Carlos Sainz. This bold move saw the Prancing Horses leading the pack in the latter stages of the race.

And somehow, Ferrari’s strategy worked brilliantly for once.

As the race wore on and tyre wear became a critical factor, Sainz, celebrating his birthday, found it tough to maintain his position. The relentless pace of the McLarens eventually saw both Piastri and Norris pass him, relegating him to fourth.

Leclerc, however, managed to hold firm, crossing the line 2.6 seconds ahead of Piastri to claim a heartwarming victory in front of the adoring Italian fans.

Norris, despite missing out on the top spot, claimed a consolation prize by setting the fastest lap, finishing third. While it wasn’t the victory he might have hoped for, it still provided valuable points in his championship bid.

Sainz, though disappointed, took fourth, while Lewis Hamilton, in what was his final Monza race before his highly anticipated move to Ferrari next season, secured fifth for Mercedes.

Max Verstappen finished sixth, a slight improvement from his starting position. The Dutchman managed to keep Mercedes' George Russell behind him, who ended up seventh, while Sergio Perez added a few more points to Red Bull’s tally by finishing eighth.

It was a strong day for Williams, with Alex Albon bagging two crucial points in ninth. Kevin Magnussen rounded out the top ten for Haas, despite both Haas drivers receiving time penalties for various infractions throughout the race.

Franco Colapinto impressed with a P12 finish on his F1 debut for Williams, moving up from P18 of the grid. With more demanding tracks left in the calendar, Monza was a great opportunity to stretch his legs in an F1 seat.

Photo Credits: Formula One Official Media