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Welcome to Prime Tire, where the start of the 2025 Italian Grand Prix has led to a few extra espressos, so please excuse any random bursts of excitement in CAPS.
I’m Alex, and Luke Smith will join us later.
Monza Magic, Leclerc’s Hope
Why Leclerc is Ferrari’s Brightest Prospect at Home
Date marked: CHARLES LECLERC’s chance of winning the 2024 Italian GP for FERRARI became evident to me as McLaren, starting 1-2 on the Monza grid, embarked on an unexpected two-stop strategy that could be risky given the substantial pitlane time losses.
As McLaren’s veteran photographer, Steven Tee, leaned in to ask about Oscar Piastri’s strategy, I had a sudden realization: “Looks promising, but Leclerc…”
It was game on. Ferrari’s “Il Predestinato” needed to navigate 35 laps on aging tires, with Piastri gaining ground each lap. Yet, Leclerc achieved the feat, consistently clocking 33 laps in the same 1:33-second bracket, marking Ferrari’s first home victory since 2019.
This was my first experience at Monza witnessing the home team win—previously, I had celebrated Pierre Gasly’s emotional victory for AlphaTauri in 2020. The atmosphere was electric, bubbling with joy. Notably, unlike in 2019, Leclerc’s mother was present to celebrate with him.
Although Leclerc’s 2024 Monza win was his second of the season, contributing to Ferrari’s total of five wins that year, the team is still seeking its first victory this year, while Red Bull and Mercedes have already triumphed in 2025.
This was not the expected narrative. After nearly clinching the 2024 constructors’ title, hopes for Ferrari soared with Lewis Hamilton’s arrival. Yet, several issues, including the problematic SF-25 and driver errors, have dampened those expectations.
Now, Ferrari’s quest for a title in 2025 feels bleak. However, a victory at Monza would relieve some pressure as the team navigates toward a new era, potentially emerging stronger in 2026, especially given Ferrari’s historical advantages in engine power.
Paddock Insights with Luke Smith
Is F1 Adapting to Demand for Change?
A hot topic in the paddock was Stefano Domenicali’s proposal for adjustments to race weekend formats, potentially including more sprint races and shorter grands prix, alongside fewer practice sessions.
As interest in F1 evolves amid dwindling attention spans, the traditional grand prix duration is under scrutiny. Driver reactions varied; some welcomed the potential for new formats, while others expressed concern about straying too far from F1’s roots.
While efforts to evolve are necessary to attract younger audiences, a balance must be found that respects the sport’s history.
Practice Overview: Norris and Hamilton Lead at Monza
Ferrari and McLaren Showcase in Practice
- In FP1, Hamilton topped with a 1:20.117-second lap, despite a red flag disrupting the session and George Russell encountering reliability issues.
- FP2 saw Norris reclaim the top spot for McLaren, while Leclerc was just 0.083 seconds behind, showcasing strong competition.
We’ll pause our liveblog this weekend, but will resume for the Azerbaijan GP on September 19-21.
In the News
🇲🇨 The Monaco GP will stay on the F1 calendar until 2035.
🤬 Former Haas F1 boss Guenther Steiner has completed his acquisition of the Tech3 MotoGP team.
🇮🇹 Luke reviewed F1’s first year with Kimi Antonelli, highlighting ups and downs, including a crash in FP2.
❌ Madeline Coleman detailed Williams’ attempts to overturn Carlos Sainz’s controversial penalty from the Dutch GP.
🇦🇺 And Daniel Ricciardo announced his retirement from racing. Farewell, Honey Badger.
