Sunday Debrief: Leclerc delights Tifosi with win in Monza

Charles Leclerc collected his second race week of the season in front of the Tifosi in Monza. The two McLarens free to battle each other, followed Leclerc to the line led by Oscar Piastri.

 

Qualifying

 

Following the Dutch Grand Prix, Williams made a switch in their driver lineup, Sargeant was dropped from the team and replaced by Franco Colapinto for the remaining 10 races of the season. Colapinto qualifies ahead of both Sauber’s for the Grand Prix in P18, while Albon qualified in P9.

 

Mercedes would have been hoping a better qualifying session from Lewis Hamilton, after the brit topped the times in both FP2 and FP3, but the 7-time world champion was only fast enough to line himself up in P6 for Sunday’s race, his teammate George Russell lining up ahead on the second row in P4. The two bulls qualified behind Hamilton on the fourth row, in P7 and P8, led by Verstappen.

 

Out in front though it was the McLaren drivers who locked out the front low. Lando Norris making it a habit this season of qualifying on pole.

 

Race

 

As the stepped off the line, Piastri had the better start over his teammate, but Norris held on to his position as they went into the first corner, however, the pair squabbled going into the second corner allowing Piastri to sweep through and take the lead. Leclerc seeing an opportunity in the moment and breezed past Norris to move up into P2.

 

George Russell compromised behind the two McLarens going into the first corner, was forced to brake sharply into the corner behind Piastri, causing the Mercedes to lock up and go off onto the run off area and dropping down from P4 to P7 as he re-joined the track. Russell also faced front wing damage as a result and pitted on lap 11 after being passed by Perez, Russell re-joined the track in P16.

In the midfield going into turn 1, Hulkenberg went into the sidepods of Tsunoda, leading to the RBs drivers’ retirement on lap 8. Hulkenberg was hit with a 10 second time penalty for the incident. However, a turn later, Ricciardo in the other RB closed the doors on Hulkenberg, squeezing the Haas into the dirt. Hulkenberg in a unfair disadvantage was passed by the RB and his teammate. Ricciardo was issued with a 5 second penalty for the incident, which he served before being issued with another penalty for 10 seconds for not serving the first penalty correctly.

 

Out in front, Norris attempted the undercut on Leclerc on lap 15, Norris making contact with the bollard on his way into the pits, carrying a bit too much speed as he entered. Norris re-joined the track back in P8. Ferrari were quick to react with Leclerc, bringing the Monegasque in at the end of the following lap, the undercut from McLaren working as Leclerc came back out in p7 behind Norris. Leclerc unhappy with the decision from his team, unsure as to why they brought him in so early.

 

Piastri, who has been leading the race for 17 laps, came in to pit at the end of lap 17, allowing Sainz to inherit the lead. Piastri re-joined the track comfortably in P4. Sainz made his pit stop on lap 19, coming back out in P6 behind the two McLarens and his teammate. The two Bulls moving up into the lead.

 

Verstappen who became the fourth race leader of the Grand Prix, came in on lap 22. It was a slow stop from Red Bull, Verstappen was stationary for just over 6 seconds, the right rear struggling to come off, Verstappen in the end joined the race again in P8. Perez came in after leading for two laps on lap 24, a better pit stop for the Mexican driver who came out ahead of his teammate, while Piastri moved back up into the lead.

 

Hulkenberg wasn’t the only Haas driver to be hit with a 10 second penalty in the race, Magnussen received a 10 second penalty to match his teammate, following contact with Gasly on lap 22. Magnussen now on 12 penalty points over the course of 12 months, means he will have to sit out the next race in Baku.

 

Piastri pitted from the lead with lost grip on his tyres on lap 38, allowing Leclerc to inherit the race lead. With Piastri running behind Leclerc followed by Perez, Norris made his move in Sainz on lap 48 down the start/finish straight to take the final podium place and extra crucial points in his fight to bridge the gap between himself and Verstappen in the championship battle.

Leclerc held on to the lead as he crossed the line 3 seconds ahead of Piastri. The two McLaren drivers concluded the podium, with Norris picking up the fastest lap on the final lap for an extra point in the championship.