Game on, as Ferrari on heels of Red Bull and McLaren

In The Driver's Seat Another race, another step forward for Lando Norris and McLaren.

- David Tremayne

But, this time, not quite as big a step as either might have expected. In Formula One's Temple of Speed, the Autodromo di Monza, Ferrari had genuflected more and Charles Leclerc stole the honours by managing a one-stop race rivals found themselves forced, after all, into two-stoppers.

A complete resurface in 2024 had left everybody wondering just how the tyres would react. They ran Pirelli's medium and soft tyres during practice, with the top six qualifiers closer than ever in history.

Norris and teammate Oscar Piastri locked up the front row but the heavily upgraded Ferraris of Leclerc and Carlos Sainz were fourth and fifth, in between George Russell and Lewis Hamilton's Mercedes.

All covered by just 0.186 of a second.

Pirelli suggested that the best strategy would be a one-stopper starting on mediums and finishing with hards. But the troubled Red Bull duo, Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez, were only seventh and eighth, and opted to start on hards. After only 23 laps they were done, and suddenly everyone started considering two stops.

Except Ferrari, and their one-stop gamble paid off. Sainz couldn't hold back the McLarens after their second pit calls, but Leclerc maintained control to win by 2.664sec.

What an upset!