The Italian Grand Prix took place as per tradition in Monza, which is the fastest race on the calendar and a race where the support for one team in particular is second to none, as the Tifosi once again came out in mass numbers to support Ferrari (and they create an incredible atmosphere at the track it has to be said), and Charles Leclerc sure did not let them down as he recorded his second consecutive win, becoming the youngest ever driver to win consecutive races.
Has the changing of the guard taken place at Ferrari now? At the start of the season, many believed that Sebastian Vettel was the number 1 driver at Ferrari with Charles Leclerc coming in to be a number 2. However Leclerc was adamant that he was not coming in to serve as Vettel's number 2. Leclerc proved that he could compete for victories almost immediately, as in Bahrain he was dominant until his engine began to give up which led to Lewis Hamilton taking advantage and winning the race. It is not to say that Leclerc's season has been perfect, far from it, and he has made mistakes along the way - most notably in Monaco where he was desperate to try make up places after a Ferrari qualifying shambles and he ended up getting a puncture which meant he retired from his home race. In addition, at the start of the season he was not always performing optimally in qualifying, whilst in Germany in the difficult conditions he ended up crashing out. However, since Austria Leclerc has out-qualified Vettel in each race, and after coming close to victory twice this season, last week in Belgium he broke his duck and scored his maiden win despite strong pressure from rivals Mercedes. He today drove an absolutely brilliant race to score back-to-back wins, even if some of his driving was perhaps on the limit - he held off both Mercedes drivers superbly, whilst Vettel inexplicably spun out of the race and then rejoined in the most clumsy manner imaginable whereby he ended up hitting Lance Stroll and was given three penalty points (taking his total up to 9, and if he reaches 12 in a one-year period he would be given a race ban). After it was believed that Vettel was the no.1 at Ferrari at the start of the season, has a changing of the guard taken place given Leclerc's superior performances in recent races?
Verstappen produces strong recovery drive despite contact at the start After he started at the back of the grid due to penalties for changes to multiple engine parts, the last thing Max Verstappen needed was contact with Sergio Perez at the start which led to front wing damage. As a result, he dropped considerably down the field and was well behind given he had to make a front wing change. Although he was helped by for example Vettel spinning out and retirements for other drivers, Verstappen drove a brilliant race up to eighth place on a two-stop strategy where he was patient and got the moves done eventually. It was of course not ideal that Verstappen hit Perez at the start, though his drive today was a mature response to the early setback he suffered. Renault drivers impress to record their best points haul of the season It must be said that the season so far has been quite a disappointment for Renault, whereby in the battle for fourth place for the Constructors' Championship they have so far been outshone by McLaren, who have had a relatively impressive season after years of disappointing showings in previous years. However, Renault had genuine pace this weekend and qualified an impressive fifth and sixth place through Daniel Ricciardo (who made the move from Red Bull earlier this year) and Nico Hulkenberg respectively. In the race today they proved that the pace they had yesterday was not a total fluke, as they deservedly finished in fourth and fifth place after Vettel's spin, and Nico Hulkenberg held off Alexander Albon, who was in a probably faster Red Bull car, very well towards the end of the race as the Anglo-Thai driver bared down on him. After what has been a rather underwhelming season for Renault, Monza was a race where the team impressed considerably. McLaren endure second consecutive disappointing race, something they cannot easily afford After what had been a relatively impressive first half to the season, since the action resumed after the summer break it must be said that McLaren have had two rather disappointing races. In Belgium, Carlos Sainz suffered from unreliability in relation to the clutch - and today it must be said that the team let him down with an unsafe release which cost him valuable points. Lando Norris was inevitably very disappointed after he last week retired with one lap to go due to unreliability which cost him fifth place and a good points haul. In fairness, today was bound to be difficult for him today to get many points given that he started at the back of the grid due to engine penalties, and to be fair he did get one point. Therefore, whilst McLaren have so far enjoyed a relatively impressive season, it is important that they do not remain complacent and they cannot afford mistakes like the one of today for Carlos Sainz and it is important that they ensure optimal reliability.