FORZA FERRARI, LECLERC

He sends home Monza crowd wild after denying McLaren 1-2; Verstappen places 6th

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Charles Leclerc Fergave rari a stunning home Italian Grand Prix victory and sent the crowd wild with delight, after nursing his tyres on a bold one-stop strategy to deny favourites McLaren a onetwo finish.

Australian Oscar Piastri, who had seized the lead from pole-sitting McLaren teammate Lando Norris on the opening lap, finished runner-up with the title-chasing Briton third.

Both McLarens made two stops, but the strategy unravelled when Leclerc eked out his set of hard tyres for 38 laps around Monza's super fast circuit as the crowd roared him on.

The result left Norris 62 points behind Red Bull's Max Verstappen, who finished only sixth, with eight races remaining.

"Mamma Mia, Mamma Mia," screamed Leclerc over the car radio as he took the chequered flag waved by former Italy football star Alessandro del Piero.

"It's an incredible feeling," Leclerc said before the podium celebrations. "I want to win Monza and Monaco every year and I have managed to do so. It is so, so special." Leclerc was 11 seconds clear with seven laps to go and 8.3sec ahead with five remaining as the massed ranks of "tifosi" willed him on.