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Leclerc claims emotional, shock victory at Monza

NEWS STORY
01/09/2024

Your editor first visited the Autodromo Nazionale Monza in 1972 having been won over by it in the 1966 movie Grand Prix.

Sadly, 1972 was when the emasculation of the classic track began, then again retaining the previous superfast layout would not only have seen lap speeds increase to more than 180 mph but would no doubt have added to the already woeful tally of tragedies at the Italian track.

Such was my love of the circuit and its surroundings that there were many more visits, not least in 1998 when I got married at the nearby Villa Reale.

In the days before the wedding I presented a petition to the mayor of Monza, calling for the protection of the legendary banked section which was in danger of being demolished.

You can read more about this here (link), but for those that haven't been there, even in these days of pounding music and 'celebrities' there remains something very special about the Monza event, something that the likes of Las Vegas and Miami, not to mention Qatar and Jeddah, can only dream of... passion.

Why else do you think the likes of Kimi Raikkonen, Jean Alesi, Gerhard Berger and Bernie Ecclestone are there, it's because Monza has its own unique vibe, and long may it continue.

Yes, it is now essentially a point and squirt track, not nearly as demanding as some of the newer circuits, but it still demands respect and bravery.

Today's race will likely be over in 75 minutes such is the sheer speed of the event, and most likely the only real thrills will take place over the course of the first lap, but one lives in hope.

Taking a leaf out of Mercedes and Toto Wolff's underdog book, McLaren and Lando Norris say they fear a comeback from Max Verstappen today, no doubt the Dutchman wishes it were possible, but it isn't. Without sounding too dramatic, based on last week's race at Zandvoort and what we have seen thus far this weekend Red Bull is on the ropes, and needs to come up with a solution before all is lost.

Yes, it can adopt Muhammad Ali's old 'rope a dope' tactic to 'protect' its title hopes but this will only work for so long, after all the great man had to have a knockout punch in reserve for when his opponent got tired.

It was annoying on Saturday to hear suggestions that McLaren issue team orders from the start, for while Oscar Piastri is 116 points down on Verstappen - as opposed to Norris' deficit of 70 - it is not impossible that the youngster could significantly close the gap also.

Of course, Norris could settle things by not fluffing his start today and disappearing into the distance, but, as it stands, we see no need for Piastri to merely roll over, at least not yet.

The Ferraris have looked strong but in all honesty not strong enough, certainly for the win, indeed Mercedes appears to have the edge.

For Red Bull and Max it will be another case of damage limitation, though it is entirely possible that the damage this afternoon - considering the pace of the Ferraris and Mercedes - will be extreme.

As was the case in John Frankenheimer's movie, slipstreaming remains a major factor at Monza - which begs the question will the forthcoming F1 movie feature similar 'live' commentaries from the drivers during races as they explain the different challenges of each track to potential new fans.

Albon and Hulkenberg are in with a chance of some decent point as are Alonso and Ricciardo, especially if there is any silliness - which there often is - on the opening lap, either at the first chicane or the second.

Pirelli believes that graining could be a factor, which could open the door to a possible two-stop strategy, which is why, apart from ensuring they have an additional option in the event of a Safety Car, all the drivers, with the exception of Tsunoda, have chosen to keep two sets of hards for the race.

On paper, the very long pitlane usually means that a one-stop is almost obligatory, so a strategy based on using one set of the mediums and one of the hards, stopping between laps 20 and 26 is the quickest. Although the opposite usage would work for those thinking of running a longer first stint, stopping between laps 26 and 32.

This year however, a two-stop cannot be ruled out, running one set of mediums and two of hards, however we think everyone will try and run a one-stop, trying to manage the tyres especially in the opening laps of each stint to avoid stressing them too much, while aware they have a Plan B up their sleeve thanks to having two sets of hard.

The pitlane opens and Hulkenberg is first out, followed by his teammate Magnussen, Ricciardo, Ocon, Tsunoda and Verstappen.

Last to take their places are Hamilton and Colapinto, who is about to contest his first Grand Prix.

Thankfully, in the wake of Martin Brundle's desperate attempt to mention as many Oasis song titles as possible (Why?), Zak Brown says that the McLaren drivers are free to race.

Air temperature is 34 degrees C, while the track temperature is 54 degrees. Despite the bright sunshine, Race Control warns of a 40% chance of rain.

All are starting on mediums bar Verstappen, Perez, Ocon, Tsunoda, Stroll and Bottas. Fresh rubber for all bar Alonso (as ever), Tsunoda, Stroll, Bottas and Zhou.

Ahead of the formation lap the timing screen go berserk, showing Norris already having a lead of over Piastri with Zhou 154s behind.

The grid forms, albeit very, very slowly.

They're away! Piastri has a great start but so does his teammate. As they head into the first chicane, Piastri pulls to his left to cover the leading McLaren, and with nowhere to go Russell has to take avoiding action and consequently misses the chicane and rejoins in seventh.

However, while it looks as though Piastri supporting his teammate on the run to the second chicane he is all over Norris' backside. Indeed, as they enter the chicane they are side-by-side, the Australian edging ahead of the Briton.

As they exit the chicane, a clearly stunned Norris, who is struggling to keep his car pointing in the right direction, is caught off guard by Leclerc and thereby slips to third.

Further back Hulkenberg has had a dreadful start having had a moment with Ricciardo. "He tried to push me into the gravel," complains the German.

At the end of Lap 1, it's: Piastri, Leclerc, Norris, Sainz, Hamilton, Verstappen, Russell, Perez, Albon and Alonso. Russell appears to have front wing damage as something is flapping around on the right-front of his car.

"George has a lot of damage," reports Perez, "it's dangerous."

On Lap 3, as Norris posts a new fastest lap (25.110), he has Leclerc hard on his heels.

Hulkenberg pits at the end of Lap 5 for a new front wing, having had a moment with the other RB, rejoining in last position.

Piastri essentially advised that with no graining it will be a one-stopper.

"Keep it there for the moment," Verstappen is told, "let them push." The Dutchman remains 6th, 1.5s down on Hamilton.

Tsunoda pits following his clash with Hulkenberg, sidepod damage meaning his race is over.

Hulkenberg is given a 10s time penalty for the Tsunoda incident, while Ricciardo has been handed a 5s penalty for forcing the German off track earlier.

Piastri posts a new fastest lap (24.077) as he builds a 1.3s lead, while Perez finally nails Russell for 7th.

As Gasly pits, Magnussen passes Ricciardo for 11th.

"Box, box!" Russell is told on Lap 11 as Piastri is asked his opinion on Plan A or B.

Russell duly pits, rejoining in 16th as Ricciardo also stops.

Check out our Sunday gallery from Monza here.

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READERS COMMENTS

 

1. Posted by Spindoctor, 04/09/2024 8:27

"@ARL I found your reference to "sportsmanship" & the "infantile" practice of telling sir or miss about the (mainly imagined) transgressions of the other kids, sorry, drivers is spot-on. I can only agree with your points regarding the demise of Corinthian spirit.

"

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2. Posted by kenji, 04/09/2024 0:00

"@ARL.....OOOOH, Naughty Oscar passed me. Blame the social engineers for their insidious infiltration of almost everything including F1. Their ideology promotes/supports their theory that 'everyones a victim', is played out globally every day and even into Turn 4 at Monza!!! Memo to Norris...'It's a race Lando'. Can't wait for Baku. Will there be an ontrack fightback or will the fix be in for Oscar?."

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3. Posted by ARL, 03/09/2024 9:14

"Ah yes, the days of sportsmanship, when Stirling would intercede on Mike's behalf when he was about to be disqualified from the Portugese GP and BRM would lend Lotus their spare H-16 so that Jim could win the US GP.

Long gone now, all we seem to get from drivers is infantile radio whines about "Lewis was mean to me miss" or "George has a dangerous loose sponsors decal, stop him at once". Even their engineers are getting tired of it.

The Corinthian spirit has gone the way of Eric Liddell, now the British Olympic committee withdraw funds from sports and athletes who fail to garner the requisite number of gold medals and give it those who meet their targets. Who do you cheer louder for, the girl who came third after self-funding her way to Paris, or her team mate who won the gold with lottery funding? There is no animosity between them, but one had a tougher climb to the Olympian heights.

McLaren have belatedly acknowledged that Lando has a much better mathematical shot at the Drivers Title, with Stella admitting grudgingly on Monday that perhaps they should be lending weight to support him. No lessons learnt from 2007 or Lotus in '73.

Only one driver can stand on the top step, and it certainly cannot be in the interest of team sponsors or the hard working team personnel in the factory and pits to gift a lead to a grateful Ferrari driver as team drivers squabble and throw away a window of superiority.

The chances are that Red Bull will regain competitiveness at some point. The rest of the field should be making hay while they can. Other opinions are available!"

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4. Posted by kenji, 03/09/2024 0:56

"@ARL....Thanks for the response. Manufactured results are simply that. External assistance to help achieve a result is like living in a fairytale. It's hardly the result of a true competition now is it. It's more closely associated with 'cheating' especially when communicated in code! Irrespective of the lineage/heritage it still rankles when I observe a driver on the top step soaking up the accolades and knowing that it wasn't just his prowess that propelled him to the heights."

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5. Posted by ARL, 02/09/2024 17:43

"@kenji, yes well different sports with different rules. If you are suggesting that we shoot drivers that break a leg, that would at least enliven the driver market.

Extend it to exceeding track limits and we could get a new grid every couple of years. Brings a whole new frisson to "Drive to Survive". Who needs Hunger Games?

Team rules in F1 go back to the dark ages. I'm old enough to remember Mike Hawthorn winning in '58, although I was too young to understand the details of how. I've seen suggestions that Collins was called in to give his car to Fangio at Monza in '56, rather than the more romantic suggestion that it was an altruistic gesture from an English Gentleman.

I suspect we now know that is not a noun that young Oscar will ever be troubled by, but that is beside the point and utterly irrelevant. Stella seems to consider Oscar to be the future of McLaren so perhaps Lando needs to be looking round for his future. Maybe Aston Martin and Newey?

Ronnie honoured his contract with Lotus, even when he knew he was off to McLaren, and supported Mario in his championship, but was less supportive of Emmo in '73. Pick your example to support any viewpoint.

On another tack, I'm glad Ed pointed an @ at Kenji. At my age it always seems like a suggestion that I have put on too much weight. SWMBO agrees.

I see that Helmut and Christian have been quick off the mark with comments approving of the McLaren tactics at Monza, or lack thereof."

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6. Posted by Editor, 02/09/2024 13:01

"@ Kenji

Especially when the sport is actively encouraging gambling on the outcome of races."

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7. Posted by kenji, 02/09/2024 12:57

"@ARL....consider this. Two horses owned by one person. Same stable same trainer. Pre race agreement between owner/trainer and jockeys to favor one horse depending on position at pre determined track postion. Post race enquiry as to why one horse pulled up. Found guilty of race fixing with possible jail term and very very heavy fines. Why should F1 be any different ?
"

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8. Posted by kenji, 02/09/2024 1:13

"That was a better race. The result was a little disappointing though. That said both of my favoured drivers took the top two places so that can't be bad. It was just that I had wanted them to be reversed. Piastri drove a sensational race today and his leading pace was terrific. He had a response every time he was threatened by Norris et al. He should've won. On the first lap his move on Norris was excellent and caught Norris napping. Oscar can race hard and fair, as quoted by Zak Brown in the post race interviews. The 'precious one' can walk around all day with his broody face on but that won't make any difference. This is F1 and hard racing is what it should be all about and a total ban on team orders at this stage of the championship. As Piastri has said, 'i was hired to win races and best way I can help the team is to win'. The WDC should not be open to manipulation and race fixing. The WCC is what puts fruit on the table.
Leclerc drove an excellent race and was quite fortunate to win as a couple of more laps and Oscar would've got him. He pulled back eight seconds in a handful of laps! I have a very high regard for Leclerc's driving and he certainly excelled today. A very personable young man both on and off the track.The days biggest turnoff though was the increased level of sheer unadulterated bias shown by SKY in their relentless crusade in 'support' of their 'anti Oscar' first lap move on Norris from almost anyone and everyone they could possibly collar. Quite disgusting really. Lazenby would simply not let it go and it's a pity that he wasn't farmed out earlier to keep Herbert company. Baku should now be even more intense as the season heads for a closer battle than we've had for a very long time. How refreshing to have drivers other than Verstappen/Hamilton on the top the charts! Ferrari, if they can keep up the momentum are now in the picture for a possible upset along with McLaren. Roll on....."

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9. Posted by estoril85, 01/09/2024 19:33

"ARL is spot on with his comment, to add -

McLaren blew the 1-2 today with their 'papaya rules' , Norris led at the start, Piastri should have stayed behind and managed the tyres and build a gap together from the rest of the grid, not race hard and destroy the tyres which is what happened. I'm all for team mates racing but at this stage they have a genuine contender for the WDC, who isn't getting any assistance from his team mate (who isn't in contention) What happened to the Lando you need the team behind you comments from Hungary, Lando probably smarting he gave that place and 7 points back now. As ARL says, Piastri has taken 10 points off him, I was expecting Oscar to slow down on the Parabolica and let Lando take second, still a podium! Would Perez have done that...You bet!"

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10. Posted by ARL, 01/09/2024 17:54

"Piastri has taken 10 points from Norris at Hungary and Italy. He was 116 points behind Verstappen after Hungary and is still 106 points behind. His move on Norris on the first lap slowed Norris down and made him vulnerable to Leclerc so arguably cost McLaren a win.

Team orders are unpopular but teams are there to win championships. Besides watching Helmut and Christian's heads explode would be the highlight of the year.

The smugness if Verstappen wins by 10 points or less would be less entertaining."

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