MONZA, Italy – Charles Leclerc by no means thought he would match the uncooked feelings of his first Ferrari win on the Italian Grand Prix, till he did it once more on Sunday.

Leclerc and Ferrari pulled off a masterfully executed race to beat the McLarens of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris on the workforce’s dwelling race.

It was Ferrari’s first dwelling win since Leclerc’s victory in 2019.

“It is an unbelievable feeling,” Leclerc mentioned instantly after the race. “Truly, I believed that the primary time would simply really feel like this, after which the second time, if there was a second time, would not really feel as particular.

“However, my God, the feelings in the previous few laps, precisely the identical, like in 2019, simply watching the grandstand inside the observe. which is difficult however yeah, unbelievable! I imply Monaco and Monza are the 2 races that I need to win yearly.

“Clearly I need to win as many races as doable and the world championship as quickly as doable however these are the 2 most essential races of the season and I managed to win them this 12 months. So, it is so, so particular.”

Leclerc’s win was constructed on the again of a one-stop technique, whereas McLaren went for 2 stops.

That meant nursing his second set of tyres to the tip.

Within the closing laps, as Piastri and Norris chased him down, the gang cheered louder and louder each time Leclerc drove down the start-finish straight.

Leclerc admitted it had been powerful to maintain centered.

“Identical to in 2019, the final three, 4, 5 laps it was fairly troublesome to maintain the eyes on the observe and I used to be clearly trying a little bit bit within the grandstand, I may see all people was standing up and that was very nice to see. In 2019 I keep in mind there was my mum additionally within the grandstand as a result of I did not handle to have a paddock cross for her.

“This 12 months, she really had a paddock cross, so it is good. She may watch and expertise each issues, as soon as within the grandstand and as soon as within the paddock. However yeah, it is a very particular feeling. I may additionally see some pink smoke at one level. So I knew all people was tremendous excited, however I additionally knew that I needed to end the job and that I needed to keep on it as a result of Oscar had a extremely good tempo.

“However yeah, within the final 5, six laps, I felt like we had it. The tyres felt good and I may see that Oscar was not that quick to catch me earlier than the tip of the race if I used to be not doing any errors.”