Title: Leclerc Breaks Ferrari's Italian Grand Prix Drought
Twenty-one-year-old Charles Leclerc put up an impressive fight against Valtteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton, securing his first Formula 1 win at the Belgian Grand Prix, and delivering Ferrari their long-awaited win at the Italian Grand Prix since 2010.
The celebrations that would usually ensue following such a victory were dampened by the tragic death of Formula 2 driver Antoine Hubert during the weekend's events. Leclerc, in tribute, wrote "RIP Toni" on his steering wheel during the race, in memory of his late friend.
The last time Ferrari tasted victory at Monza was the victory of Fernando Alonso in 2010; however, this win opens up the possibility for the Tifosi, who flooded the northern Italian city, to aim for the home championship.
"What a race. I've never been so tired," said Leclerc after his win to Sky. "I made a few errors but ended up first, so I'm really happy about it. I had to be careful with these errors, but apparently, they didn't cost me my position today."
Mercedes championship leader Hamilton led the majority of the race, but his early departure eleven laps before the finish line allowed Valtteri Bottas to make a run for it. Bottas managed to cut down Leclerc's lead to half a second, but a later braking error removed any chance of a challenge. Hamilton maintains his lead in the championship, with a 63-point advantage over Bottas.
"Congratulations to Ferrari and Charles, he drove an excellent race," Hamilton said after the race to Sky. "Valtteri and I were under a lot of pressure. I gave it everything I had."
"Of course, the tires eventually gave way after such a long time. But they were faster, faster on the straightaways, and even when we were close, we couldn't catch up."
"It wasn't our day, but nonetheless, it was a team effort. We're behind Ferrari in the constructor standings, and that's what really matters."
Leclerc's victory elevated him in the championship standings above his teammate Sebastian Vettel, while Max Verstappen managed to finish third despite starting from the back row due to an excess penalties. Vettel, who last won at Monza in 2013, lost valuable points after losing control of his car in round seven, colliding with Lance Stroll, resulting in a 10-second time penalty.
The game will resume in two weeks in Singapore.
Further Reading:
Backstory (Optional): Charles Leclerc's victory at the Italian Grand Prix in 2019 was a significant turning point in Ferrari's Formula 1 history. This win brought an end to Ferrari's nine-year drought at the Italian Grand Prix and represented a return to winning ways for the iconic Italian team. Leclerc's victory, marking his first win with Ferrari, was a testament to his talent and determination, and it catapulted him into the spotlight as one of the rising stars of the sport. Overall, Leclerc's victory at the 2019 Italian Grand Prix was a triumph for Ferrari and a memorable moment in the history of Formula 1.
Sources: edition.cnn.com
Additional Insights (Optional):
The victory marked Leclerc as the youngest driver to win a Grand Prix for Ferrari, earning him the nickname ''il Principe'' (the Prince) among fans and media. This win also contributed to Ferrari's comeback in the constructors championship, as they managed to hold on to third place in the final standings within a close battle with Red Bull Racing. Furthermore, Leclerc's victory significantly boosted the team morale, giving hope to everyone involved in the team that good results were just around the corner. Overall, the win was a dramatic and emotional moment for both Leclerc and the team. Thanks to Leclerc's incredible performance, Ferrari managed to break their long-running Italian Grand Prix drought and written another remarkable chapter in the history of Formula 1.
