Leclerc’s first triumph at Monza came in 2019, just days after his maiden win at Spa, where he drove with the weight of losing his friend Anthoine Hubert. That was a victory filled with raw, unfiltered emotion. Fast forward to this season, and Leclerc finally exorcised his Monaco demons with a home victory that had seemed cursed for so long.

How Did Leclerc Pull Off the Monza Masterclass?

Ferrari’s season had been a rollercoaster. After the highs of Monaco, the Scuderia lost ground to McLaren and Mercedes, who stormed ahead with a series of dominant performances. At Monza, the script seemed set for another McLaren showstopper. Lando Norris, fresh off a commanding win at Zandvoort, grabbed pole and looked poised to repeat his Dutch dominance.

But Oscar Piastri had other plans. The Australian rookie muscled his way past Norris right off the start, throwing a spanner into McLaren’s championship charge. It was all McLaren from the start, and Ferrari’s hopes looked bleak.

Enter Leclerc, cool as ever under the Monza clouds. As McLaren bet everything on a one-stop strategy, Leclerc seized his chance. His relentless pace and Ferrari’s impeccable strategy blindsided their rivals, and suddenly, Monza was draped in red once more. 

“It’s an incredible feeling,” Leclerc beamed, still soaked in champagne. “I thought the second time, if there was a second time, wouldn’t feel as special, but it was just like 2019. The last laps were magic.” And what could be better than winning both Monza and Monaco in the same season? For Leclerc, it’s the stuff of dreams. “I want to win Monza and Monaco every year,” he grinned. “And this year, I’ve done it. It’s so, so special.”

As the chequered flag fell, the Tifosi stormed the track, turning the circuit into a sea of red as they celebrated with their hero. Leclerc’s selfie from the podium, surrounded by a sea of fans, captured it all—the joy, the passion, and the unbreakable bond between Ferrari and its faithful. 

It’s moments like this that remind us why we love F1. A home win, a driver who wears his heart on his sleeve, and a team that’s never short of drama. Monza 2024? One for the history books.