Reactions and Revelations: Drivers and Team Bosses Speak Out After Monza Thriller

Charles Leclerc drove a masterful race to claim Ferrari's first victory of the season at their home Italian Grand Prix. Starting from third on the grid, Leclerc made a brilliant start to jump into second place behind Lando Norris. The Ferrari driver then executed a perfect one-stop strategy to take the lead and hold off a charging Oscar Piastri to win by just over two seconds.

It was Leclerc's second victory at Monza, matching his emotional 2019 triumph for Ferrari. The Tifosi erupted in celebration as Leclerc took the checkered flag to secure a famous win for the Scuderia on home soil.

McLaren Miss Out on Victory Despite Strong Showing

McLaren looked set for victory after locking out the front row in qualifying, but their two-stop strategy ultimately cost them the win. Oscar Piastri finished an impressive second after passing teammate Lando Norris early in the race. Norris rounded out the podium in third, giving McLaren a double podium finish.

Mercedes and Red Bull Struggle

Mercedes and Red Bull both had difficult races at Monza. Lewis Hamilton was the best of the rest in fifth, while George Russell recovered to seventh after first lap contact. Max Verstappen could only manage sixth place as Red Bull lacked pace all weekend. Sergio Perez finished eighth after a long battle with Russell.

Points Finishers and Notable Performances

Alex Albon scored points for Williams in ninth, while Kevin Magnussen claimed the final point for Haas in tenth despite a time penalty. Fernando Alonso just missed out on points in 11th for Aston Martin. Further back, Franco Colapinto impressed on his F1 debut for Williams, finishing 12th after starting 18th.

The victory sees Ferrari close the gap to Mercedes in the constructors' championship, while Red Bull's lead was cut after a difficult weekend. The F1 season continues in two weeks' time with the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku.