LECLERC TAKES AN UNEXPECTED VICTORY IN MONZA

In a race weekend that was built up to be a dream for the McLaren team, it was the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc who took the most unexpected victories at the Temple of Speed. Having won his home race in Monaco for the first time this year has now won the Italian Grand Prix in the same season. The McLaren's finished second and third with Piastri ahead of Norris come the chequered flag.

It was Lando Norris (McLaren) who leads from Piastri with George Russell (Mercedes) in third who locks up into turn one and drops down from third to fifth. But heading into the chicane it's Oscar Piastri (McLaren) who leads after passing Norris mid corner as Leclerc takes second and Norris is third, after having to get onto the brake pedal quite hard as to not crash into his teammate. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) is fourth and Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) completes the top five.

Just eight laps into the race we had our one and only retirement in the form of Yuki Tsunoda in the RB as the Japanese drivers Italian curse continues with his best finish being 14th otherwise he has failed to start or finish the race. This comes after a collision earlier on with the Haas of Nico Hulkenberg. 

The first of the key pit stops came twelve laps in when Russell pitted to replace a broken front wing - which he sustained early on in the race. Russell dropped down to 16th but now on the hard tyres and will try for the one stop race which we know Russell is capable of.

Three laps later on lap fifteen Norris pitted from third and comes back out in ninth, in an attempt to undercut Leclerc and Piastri. And IT WORKED - Norris is ahead of Leclerc after the Ferrari pits on the very next lap.

Then race leader Piastri pitted from the lead seventeen laps in - meaning Sainz takes over the lead of the race. But crucially for Piastri, Norris is behind as he exits the pits. Piastri out in fourth.

On Lap 20 Sainz pitted from the lead this means Max Verstappen (Red Bull) takes over the lead from his teammate Sergio Perez but both Red Bulls are yet to stop which means Piastri holds the net race lead over his teammate Lando Norris at this point in the race.

Two laps later momentary race leader Max Verstappen pits in what is a slow stop at 6.2 seconds which gives Perez the lead and Verstappen drops in at eighth place. On Lap 24 Perez pits as Piastri takes over the lead. Norris is second, Leclerc third Sainz fourth and Hamilton completes the top five.

With twenty laps left Norris makes a mistake and puts Leclerc right behind he McLaren. In what turned out to be a key moment in the final order of this race.

The lap straight after his mistake (Lap 33) Norris pitted from second and comes out in sixth behind Verstappen and ahead of Perez.

Then with 39 laps gone race leader Piastri pits from the lead and Leclerc now leads the Italian Grand Prix. Sainz second and Piastri third.

And in a turn of events which no one would have expected Leclerc was able to take his tyres to end to take an emotional victory at Monza, his second win at the Temple of Speed.

Although he didn't get Driver of the Day (which went to Leclerc) debutant Franco Colapinto in the Williams drove a superb race finishing in 12th place. A superb performance from the young Argentine driver.

The next race is the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

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