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08 September 2019Head, heart and patience. Charles Leclerc reports Ferrari on the top step of the Monza podium since 2010 (Alonso) and repeats last week's success in Belgium. The Monegasque bears the pressure of the Mercedes, with Hamilton for a long time an angry attack. The key to success also in tire strategy: confidence in the toughest tires, against the obvious choice of the house in Stuttgart that goes on average. Vettel is missing at the red party, author of a real mess in the first laps that puts him out of the race (he will finish 13th). On the podium Bottas and Hamilton, then the Renault. Great comeback by Verstappen (who started at the bottom for the replacement of the power unit) which hits the eighth place, while the other Red Bull by Albon is sixth.

Well Hamilton at the start, but Leclerc contains it. Vettel is overtaken by Hulkenberg but returns it in half a lap. The problems for Ferrari's German arrive on lap 7 when it goes into a spin at Ascari and re-enters Stroll: stop in the pits to replace the front wing ('white' tire to go all the way) and 10 "penalty with stop & go .

German virtually out of the race. The battle between Leclerc and Hamilton ignites from the 20th lap. The British test the undercut and mount the 'yellow' as expected. The Monegasque responds to the next step and pulls the 'whites' out of the hat. Hamilton roars and tries several times the attack, Leclerc does not give space and the Renault cars are unintentional spectators (until overtaking) of the duel. Bottas is the leader until lap 28, when it stops ('yellow') and returns the command to Leclerc.

Hamilton continues the melee with the Monegasque. The DRS is not enough and the Brit does not pass even when Leclerc misses the chicane. Bottas approaches the couple. Hamilton begins to experience tire problems: long resounding at the chicane on lap 42, Bottas passes it and Leclerc breathes. The Finn tries to get closer, but soon he too is 'abandoned' by the tires and is satisfied with the place of honor. Behind the Mercedes the two Renault cars of Ricciardo and Hulkenberg, who celebrate a great weekend in Italy. Alfa Romeo on the sidelines: Giovinazzo nono, Raikkonen 15th with incredible error on the grid (he had mounted the wrong tires and was penalized).

In the standings things do not change for Hamilton, who always has a more than comforting advantage over Bottas: 283 points to 221. Leclerc, at 182, approaches Verstappen, 185, in third place.