As the Formula One circus ventures to Monza for this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix, it may be worth recalling five striking moments that unfolded during last year’s race.
Slender qualifying margins
Although Lando Norris took pole by a tenth of a second, which sounds like an age in 2025 qualifying terms, the gaps behind were razor thin.
Oscar Piastri locked out the front row for McLaren but had George Russell’s Mercedes just four milliseconds behind him. In fact, the gap between Piastri (in second) and Lewis Hamilton (in sixth) was 0.077 seconds.
With the first six cars separated by just 186 thousandths of a second, the equivalent of a very quick blink of an eye, it marked the closest qualifying session of the season.
📲 Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
Red Bull’s miserable weekend
From dominating the first few races of the season, to being comfortably the fourth-quickest car at Monza, Red Bull’s summer nadir continued at the Italian Grand Prix. Seemingly quicker on older tyres, with their pace disappearing on a new set, the weekend was compounded also by a track that exposed the worsening handling of their RB20 car.
Verstappen improved his seventh-place qualifying position with a sixth place, on Sunday, while Sergio Perez both qualified and finished in P8. But if Verstappen were to win the 2024 drivers’ championship, something would have to quickly change.
Magnussen crosses the line
Heading into the Italian race, Kevin Magnussen was on red alert as he was two penalty points away from a tally of 12 that would ban him for a race.
And he would earn those extra two points, when he chanced an unsuccessful move down the inside of Pierre Gasly at the second chicane, hit the Alpine driver and forced them both off the track.
With a 10-second time penalty also slapped against his name, Magnussen was forced to sit out the following race, in Azerbaijan, where Oliver Bearman would deputise for him.
McLaren upon McLaren
Lando Norris made a habit of not leading the first lap of a grand prix, even if he started on pole. And while he maintained his advantage through the first two corners, the Rettifilo Chicane, Oscar Piastri got into his slipstream through the Curva Grande and surprised the Brit when he chanced a gutsy move to the outside of the della Roggia Chicane.
The two got within fractions of colliding, but Piastri was through and Norris eventually dropped behind Leclerc. The British driver was far from pleased, telling Sky Sports that it was “way too close for comfort.”
LAP 1 / 53
— Formula 1 (@F1) September 1, 2024
PIASTRI TAKES THE LEAD!! 😱
The Australian sweeps around Norris at the della Roggia chicane to lead the field!! 👏
Leclerc also squeezes past into second, sparking jubilation in the stands! #F1 #ItalianGP pic.twitter.com/ViptiU4v5v
Tifosi Joy
Charles Leclerc already knew what winning the Italian Grand Prix meant to him and Ferrari. But his 2024 win was arguably even better, and certainly more surprising.
He started fourth but passed George Russell, who broke his front wing, and Lando Norris, as already mentioned. But dropped back to third when McLaren successfully executed the undercut on the Monegasque.
It seemed like any part that Leclerc had to play in the race had vanished. But what followed was one of his most majestic drives.
Struggling with graining, both McLarens decided to pit for a second time, expecting the Ferrari driver to do the same. But Leclerc did not visit the pit lane for the rest of the race. So, it was left to the lead Papaya car, Oscar Piastri, to reel Leclerc in, whose tyres were inevitably degrading.
Even on the final tour, Piastri took 1.3 seconds out of Leclerc’s lead; but it was not enough. Ferrari had triumphed at home, and Leclerc started an earthquake of Tifosi elation, heard both during the Monegasque and Italian national anthems.
Magical moments at Monza ✨
— Formula 1 (@F1) September 1, 2024
Here's the moment Charles Leclerc added to his home win in Monaco, with another for Ferrari in Italy 👇#F1 #ItalianGP pic.twitter.com/d8lWa6o3h2
Formula 1 news & related links
Where to sit? The best overtaking opportunities at the Italian Grand Prix
Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen's modern, yet old-school, ambition