FORZA FERRARI

Italian fans get the win they craved as Charles rules the roost at Monza

- DANIEL MOYON

FERRARI fans screamed and stamped their feet in delight as Charles Leclerc pulled off a famous Monza victory.

Lando Norris started on pole and had the chance to take a significant chunk out of Max Verstappen's advantage in the championship standings.

But he lost out to Oscar Piastri on the first lap and spent the rest of the race looking at his teammate's gearbox.

McLaren were outsmarted by Ferrari who only pitted Leclerc once. And he had enough juice in his tyres to hold off the charging Piastri and send the Italian fans ballistic.

Leclerc, who secured Ferrari's last Monza win in 2019, said: "It's an incredible feeling.

"I thought the first time would feel like this and the second time wouldn't feel as special.

"But my God the emotions in the last few laps, Monaco and Monza are the two races I want to win every year and I've managed to win them this year.

It is so, so special." With the fastest lap on his way to finishing third, Norris only trimmed the gap to sixth-placed Verstappen by eight points.

He remains 62 behind with eight race weekends to go and could be left to rue this missed opportunity.

Norris said: "Oscar drove a good race and so did Charles.