At last year’s Italian Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc started 4th on the grid and went on to deliver a sensational victory at our home circuit in Monza. In front of hundreds of thousands of passionate Tifosi, whose cheers and support filled the atmosphere with electric energy, Charles faced the immense challenge of taking car number 16 from P4 to P1 — under scorching heat and in a Ferrari that, on paper, was no match for the pace of the McLarens.

Yet from the very first lap, Charles looked like a man on a mission. He knew exactly what it would take to navigate the unforgiving demands of the Temple of Speed — late braking into the Rettifilo chicane, threading the car through the sweeping Lesmos, and holding his nerve through Ascari and Parabolica. The Ferrari wasn’t the quickest on the straights, nor the most stable through the corners. The McLaren was faster in almost every metric. But Charles had something numbers couldn’t measure: the ability to extract every last drop of performance when it mattered most. He didn’t just drive — he attacked every corner with intent, positioning the car perfectly lap after lap, refusing to yield even a fraction of ground.

The race strategy played a crucial role as Norris pitted on lap 15, with Charles following a lap later. As the race unfolded, Norris began to struggle with tyre degradation, his lap times dropping noticeably as the performance of his tyres worsened. This forced Norris into an additional pit stop, costing him precious time and track position. Meanwhile, Charles made the bold decision to stay out on his set of hard tyres, managing their condition expertly lap after lap, showing remarkable tyre management skills under immense pressure.

Even as the track temperature soared and the rubber wore thin, Charles kept calm. He communicated constantly with his race engineer, adjusting brake balance, tweaking settings, doing everything in his power to keep the car alive underneath him. Behind him, faster cars loomed — quicker on paper, fresher tyres, but lacking Charles's ability of tyre management. 

In an unexpected display of skill, composure, and determination, Charles pushed the car to its limits, maintaining consistent pace while keeping his tyres intact despite the punishing conditions. As the laps went by, the tension grew among the Tifosi, who could feel something special unfolding before their eyes. The grandstands trembled with anticipation. With every sector, every turn of the wheel the dream of a Ferrari win in Monza was becoming more and more real. A collective breath held across Monza.

Finally, after a relentless battle and a masterclass in racecraft, Charles crossed the finish line first, igniting Monza with the deafening screams and joyous celebrations of the Tifosi. In that unforgettable moment, once again, we were gifted with the most beautiful words a person can hear:

“Charles Leclerc wins the Italian Grand Prix!”