Charles Leclerc wins Italian Grand Prix as risky strategy pays off

Ferrari claimed its first home-nation victory since 2019 at the Italian Grand Prix on Sunday, with driver Charles Leclerc holding off the McLaren cars.

The difference for LeClerc was the team decision to have him make only one pit stop, compared to two for the McLaren team of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris.

The latter started in the pole position and eventually was surpassed by his teammate, with Piastri controlling the race much of the way.

But the second pit stop for each with about 20 laps to go gave LeClerc and his teammate Carlos Sainz, also employing the one-stop strategy, a chance to move into the lead in the latter laps of the race in Monza, Italy.

Sainz, who turned 30 on Sunday, wasn't able to hold his place, however, given his worn-down tires, and was passed by the McLaren cars. Leclerc finished 2.6 seconds ahead of Piastri to claim his second win of the season, adding the title to his victory at the Monaco Grand Prix.

It was the second Italian Grand Prix win for Leclerc, with Piastri, Norris, Sainz and Lewis Hamilton rounding out the top five.

"It's an incredible feeling," Leclerc said. "Actually I thought that the first time would just feel like this, and then the second time, if there was a second time wouldn't feel as special, but my god, the emotions in the last few laps, exactly the same like in 2019."

Had there been another lap or two, Leclerc and his degrading tires might not have been able to hold on. With seven laps to go, his lead was 11 seconds, and with five laps left, it was 8.3.