Italian Grand Prix – The Editor’s Tops/Flops

TOPS

Charles Leclerc thrills the tifosi.

With a masterful hand, the driver of the prancing horse single-seater bearing the number 16 managed to seize the two most important trophies for him and Ferrari this year.

Monaco was a victory achieved thanks to its pole position: given the narrowness of the streets of the principality, and since after the big crash at the start the drivers no longer needed to go through the pits, it was just a matter of controlling the pack.

At Monza, the victory was well thought out and obtained following a perfect driving and an excellently executed tire strategy. He is also logically elected driver of the day.

2. Oscar Piastri, the fearless

While his teammate still has a chance to beat Max Verstappen for the driver’s title at the end of the season, Oscar Piastri does not care and plays his own card in a bold and effective way.

Still a rookie last year, the Australian driver is giving his fast and experienced teammate Lando Norris a hard time. If he managed to win his first race at the Hungarian Grand Prix, the driver with number 81 now wants more. He has shown his potential to the whole F1 world, and no matter who his opponent is, he will go fight him. Starting with his English teammate.

And that’s exactly what he did brilliantly in the first lap at Monza. An authoritative overtaking, on his teammate who is fighting for the title, proves his determination not to be just a second fiddle at McLaren.

He has the talent, the composure, the speed, he only lacks a bit of experience (and even then…). Oscar Piastri has everything to become a great very quickly, nothing scares him. And nothing seems to resist him. Not even the famous team orders: papaya rules. When Oscar wants something, Oscar gets it, and Alpine still remembers it! He leaves nothing to chance and he proved it again on Sunday.

3. The fans

Running in Monza is always an extraordinary experience for any driver. The temple of speed is a unique circuit.

So running in Monza while being a Ferrari driver… Today the tifosi were the handful of horses missing from the SF24 to claim the top step of the podium. They managed to push their two drivers to a higher level and are part of this superb victory.

Coming to Monza for any Formula 1 fan is a “must-see” because of the enthusiasm and passion typical of this circuit.

A huge thank you to the tifosi for proudly wearing the colors of their favorites, the atmosphere there is remarkable and unique.

FLOPS

Lando Norris must gain character.

Lando Norris is a very fast driver, it’s a fact. Fast in qualifying, fast in the race. He also knows how to be consistent and maintain the right pace that will gradually lead him to victory.

However, despite his experience in F1 and especially his experience within McLaren, Lando Norris remains somewhat tender. A bit like the cheerful image he displays to us when he is no longer behind the wheel.

It’s this relative lack of character that cost him the race on Sunday. He didn’t think his Australian teammate was capable of attempting an overtake at this point and time in the race. Therefore, he didn’t fully close the door on the McLaren 81 and had to settle for third place at the end of the race.

If he really wants to become world champion this year, he will have to quickly strengthen his game. He has no more joker to make up the 64 points that separate him from Max Verstappen.

2. The Red Bulls losing momentum

If Sergio Perez has accustomed us since last year’s Monaco Grand Prix to a Red Bull not finishing every time, if not on the podium, at least in the top 5, Max Verstappen has rarely accustomed us to such results.

We considered Monaco as being an atypical result, on an atypical and urban track. But it is the second time this year that the reigning world champion has failed as far from the winner.

Max Verstappen seemed to struggle with his car throughout the weekend. And his first place in FP1 was short-lived.

If the margin is still significant for the drivers’ title, but nevertheless threatened. The one concerning the constructors’ title seems to be definitively reduced to almost nothing before a return to the forefront of McLaren, Ferrari, and Mercedes in a very short time.

The current world champion team seems to be at a standstill. Completely overwhelmed by multiple internal conflicts and uncontrolled developments.

3. The Haas losing momentum

One point for Kevin Magnussen, a 17th place finish more than one lap down for Nico Hülkenberg, a poor result for the American team, while the qualifying performances of the two Haas drivers hinted at a more promising race.

But beyond this simple financial statement, what we are mainly focusing on is the future disqualification of Kevin Magnussen.

Indeed, following a misdeed against Pierre Gasly’s Alpine, Kevin Magnussen has earned a point on his license and will therefore be suspended from the next race taking place in two weeks in Azerbaijan.

If the Danish driver challenges this penalty, and Pierre Gasly confirms that it is too severe, it nevertheless illustrates the overly aggressive mindset of the two drivers in the team.