Italian Grand Prix 2024 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Charles Leclerc produced a masterclass in tire management to win the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, delivering Ferrari's home victory with a brilliant one-stop strategy that defied conventional wisdom. The Monegasque driver held off the faster McLarens in a thrilling finale, sending the passionate Tifosi into raptures at the Temple of Speed.

Starting from fourth on the grid behind pole-sitter Lando Norris, Leclerc moved into the lead through strategic brilliance. While McLaren committed to a two-stop strategy, Ferrari gambled on a single pit stop, extending Leclerc's opening stint and then asking him to nurse his hard tires to the finish. The strategy appeared risky as both Piastri and Norris closed dramatically on fresher rubber in the closing laps, but Leclerc's masterful defensive driving and tire preservation kept them at bay.

Oscar Piastri finished second for McLaren after a late pass on teammate Norris, who completed the podium in third and set the fastest lap. The victory was Leclerc's second of the season and Ferrari's first at Monza since 2019, triggering emotional celebrations among the sea of red in the grandstands. The result demonstrated Ferrari's tactical nous and highlighted that while McLaren had the fastest car, races could still be won through strategy and racecraft.