Ferrari’s long wait ends

Charles Leclerc ended Ferrari’s nine-year wait for victory at its home circuit as he held off the Mercedes duo to win the Italian Grand Prix yesterday.

The 21-year-old Leclerc secured his second successive F1 race win in the process, having recorded his first ever in last week’s Belgian Grand Prix.

‘‘It really means so much to me,’’ Leclerc said in Italian, as he spoke from the iconic podium at Monza, above a sea of red as thousands of Ferrari fans chanted his name and waved flags.

‘‘It was already a dream come true at Spa, winning here is 10 times more. I don’t have words.’’

Leclerc, who started from pole position, was roared on by the passionate Ferrari tifosi and he let out an equally joyful cry as he crossed the line 0.8 seconds ahead of Valtteri Bottas and 35.1sec ahead of championship leader Lewis Hamilton.

‘‘In the last two laps I started to believe that the win was possible. I let all my emotions on the radio, I don’t think anyone could understand what I said,’’ said Leclerc with a laugh.

Ferrari’s last win at Monza came in 2010 through Fernando Alonso.

‘‘Charles did a great job,’’ Hamilton said. ‘‘He came under a lot of pressure from Valtteri and I.’’