Leclerc powers Ferrari

I think if you have to win one Grand Prix with Ferrari, it’s the Italian Grand Prix

Ferrari's Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc (R) competes ahead of Mercedes' British driver Lewis Hamilton during the Italian Formula One Grand Prix at the Autodromo Nazionale circuit in Monza on September 8, 2019. (AFP )

MONZA, Italy (AFP) — Charles Leclerc secured Ferrari’s first home victory in the Italian Grand Prix since 2010 when he resisted race-long pressure from Mercedes pair Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas to claim his second successive Formula One triumph.

The 21-year-old, who won his maiden GP in Belgium last weekend, was exultant as a vast army of Ferrari fans in an estimated crowd of more than 150,000 celebrated deliriously.

“I think if you have to win one Grand Prix with Ferrari, it’s the Italian Grand Prix,” said an exhausted Leclerc after winning the 90th edition of the GP for the Italian team in their 90th year.

“I came here with my first win and to win my second one here straight away with all the fans is just unbelievable.”

“I don’t have the words to describe this. I have never imagined it, I’ve never dreamed of something like this — it is above everything I have imagined in my career and in my racing life to have a podium like this.”

Leclerc came home narrowly ahead of second-placed Bottas and his Mercedes teammate Hamilton, who pursued the victory for most of the race until his tires let him down.

Hamilton apologized to Mercedes and said his tires “had gone off the cliff” but the defending five-time champion still has a healthy lead in the drivers’ championship, 63 points ahead of his Mercedes teammate Bottas.

Leclerc’s Ferrari teammate Sebastian Vettel endured a torrid and disappointing day, finishing 13th after spinning off and taking a penalty for rejoining in a dangerous fashion.

Daniel Ricciardo came home fourth ahead of his Renault teammate Nico Hulkenberg, Red Bull new boy Alex Albon, Sergio Perez of Force India and Max Verstappen, who finished eighth after starting from 19th in the second Red Bull.

Local hero Antonio Giovinazzi came home ninth for Alfa Romeo ahead of Lando Norris of McLaren, who continued his impressive rookie season.

Leclerc made a clean start from pole and fended off Hamilton at the first chicane, where Verstappen was an opening lap casualty and required a pit stop for a new front wing and a set of hard tires.

After a wheel-banging battle between Albon and Sainz, Leclerc clocked a fastest lap and then Vettel spun at Ascari, clipping Lance Stroll’s Racing Point as he re-joined.

Both cars were damaged, Vettel pitting for a new front wing, after which the German was given a 10-seconds stop-and-go penalty and dropped to last.