Lewis Hamilton believes his former team McLaren squandered their chance to win the Italian Grand Prix by putting their drivers on two-stop strategies.
McLaren locked out the front row of the grid for today’s race but Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc split their two drivers at the start. While both McLaren drivers pitted twice, Leclerc only came in once, and took the chequered flag first.Hamilton is convinced McLaren could have made a success of Leclerc’s winning strategy. “Looking at the race trace, I think McLaren had the pace, they just pushed too hard,” he told Sky. “They were doing much too fast laps early on and killed their tyres.”
He believes McLaren’s strategists were too hesitant to consider alternatives to two pit stops. “I guess they literally had planned for a two-stop,” said Hamilton. “That’s why they were pushing so hard.
The idea McLaren were wedded to a two-stop strategy is underlined by the haste with which they brought Lando Norris into the pits, seizing the opportunity to “undercut” Leclerc for second place. Norris was shaping up to pass Leclerc on the track at the time.
Two laps later, McLaren brought Oscar Piastri in from the lead. His lap times were holding up well compared to the second Ferrari of Carlos Sainz Jnr, which had also not yet pitted. McLaren appeared to bring him less due to the state of his tyres and more because they didn’t want to let him fall behind Norris and Leclerc, who swapped positions through their first pit stops.
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After the race Piastri dismissed the idea that pushing too hard early on made the one-stop strategy impossible for McLaren. However he conceded they could have approached the race differently in terms of both tactics and, crucially, driving technique.
“But if the information I got is right, on the radio, then it wasn’t really a matter of driving slower. It was just kind of sticking with the graining and getting through it.
“Which, given that in practice when that happened you basically couldn’t hit the brake pedal because you turned your front left into a 50 pence coin, it seemed like a very risky thing to do so. Obviously, it was the right thing in hindsight but everyone’s a lot smarter when the chequered flag falls.”
Norris believes Leclerc’s skilful nursing of his front-left tyre, minimising the graining, was what allowed him to make the one-stop strategy work and win the race.
“We tried, we knew it was a quicker thing to do, but I think we just killed the tyres a little bit too easily,” he said. “And like Oscar said, when you’re in third, it’s a much easier position to just try and risk and do such a thing. So I don’t think we can be too disappointed.
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“I think it was a lot riskier for us to try and do it than it was for Charles, and he made it work. So, yeah, hats off to them and Ferrari and himself because the driving part makes a big difference out there.”
2024 Italian Grand Prix lap chart
The positions of each driver on every lap. Click name to highlight, right-click to reset. Toggle drivers using controls below:
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2024 Italian Grand Prix race chart
The gaps between each driver on every lap compared to the leader’s average lap time. Very large gaps omitted. Scroll to zoom, drag to pan and right-click to reset. Toggle drivers using controls below:
2024 Italian Grand Prix lap times
All the lap times by the drivers (in seconds, very slow laps excluded). Scroll to zoom, drag to pan and toggle drivers using the control below:
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2024 Italian Grand Prix fastest laps
Each driver’s fastest lap:
| Rank | # | Driver | Car | Lap time | Gap | Avg. speed (kph) | Lap no. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren-Mercedes | 1’21.432 | 256.1 | 53 | |
| 2 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | 1’21.512 | 0.080 | 255.85 | 53 |
| 3 | 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull-Honda RBPT | 1’21.745 | 0.313 | 255.12 | 43 |
| 4 | 81 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren-Mercedes | 1’21.943 | 0.511 | 254.5 | 53 |
| 5 | 63 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1’22.036 | 0.604 | 254.22 | 49 |
| 6 | 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin-Mercedes | 1’22.232 | 0.800 | 253.61 | 52 |
| 7 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin-Mercedes | 1’22.944 | 1.512 | 251.43 | 46 |
| 8 | 11 | Sergio Perez | Red Bull-Honda RBPT | 1’22.971 | 1.539 | 251.35 | 47 |
| 9 | 55 | Carlos Sainz Jnr | Ferrari | 1’23.219 | 1.787 | 250.6 | 53 |
| 10 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1’23.226 | 1.794 | 250.58 | 33 |
| 11 | 27 | Nico Hulkenberg | Haas-Ferrari | 1’23.275 | 1.843 | 250.43 | 44 |
| 12 | 20 | Kevin Magnussen | Haas-Ferrari | 1’23.437 | 2.005 | 249.95 | 51 |
| 13 | 77 | Valtteri Bottas | Sauber-Ferrari | 1’23.609 | 2.177 | 249.43 | 52 |
| 14 | 43 | Franco Colapinto | Williams-Mercedes | 1’23.728 | 2.296 | 249.08 | 53 |
| 15 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine-Renault | 1’23.755 | 2.323 | 249 | 51 |
| 16 | 23 | Alexander Albon | Williams-Mercedes | 1’23.918 | 2.486 | 248.51 | 53 |
| 17 | 3 | Daniel Ricciardo | RB-Honda RBPT | 1’24.219 | 2.787 | 247.63 | 52 |
| 18 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | Alpine-Renault | 1’24.343 | 2.911 | 247.26 | 52 |
| 19 | 24 | Zhou Guanyu | Sauber-Ferrari | 1’25.092 | 3.660 | 245.09 | 17 |
| 20 | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda | RB-Honda RBPT | 1’26.198 | 4.766 | 241.94 | 4 |
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2024 Italian Grand Prix tyre strategies
The tyre strategies for each driver:
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2024 Italian Grand Prix pit stop times
How long each driver’s pit stops took:
| Rank | # | Driver | Team | Complete stop time (s) | Gap to best (s) | Stop no. | Lap no. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 81 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | 23.793 | 1 | 16 | |
| 2 | 11 | Sergio Perez | Red Bull | 24.03 | 0.237 | 2 | 35 |
| 3 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | Alpine | 24.146 | 0.353 | 1 | 31 |
| 4 | 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 24.15 | 0.357 | 2 | 41 |
| 5 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | 24.155 | 0.362 | 2 | 37 |
| 6 | 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 24.169 | 0.376 | 1 | 14 |
| 7 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine | 24.203 | 0.41 | 2 | 30 |
| 8 | 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | 24.209 | 0.416 | 2 | 36 |
| 9 | 55 | Carlos Sainz Jnr | Ferrari | 24.313 | 0.52 | 1 | 19 |
| 10 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine | 24.335 | 0.542 | 1 | 10 |
| 11 | 77 | Valtteri Bottas | Sauber | 24.41 | 0.617 | 1 | 33 |
| 12 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | 24.469 | 0.676 | 1 | 15 |
| 13 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | 24.501 | 0.708 | 2 | 35 |
| 14 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 24.551 | 0.758 | 1 | 15 |
| 15 | 81 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | 24.67 | 0.877 | 2 | 38 |
| 16 | 11 | Sergio Perez | Red Bull | 24.728 | 0.935 | 1 | 23 |
| 17 | 23 | Alexander Albon | Williams | 24.801 | 1.008 | 1 | 17 |
| 18 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | 24.866 | 1.073 | 1 | 12 |
| 19 | 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 24.87 | 1.077 | 2 | 32 |
| 20 | 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | 24.98 | 1.187 | 1 | 19 |
| 21 | 43 | Franco Colapinto | Williams | 25.147 | 1.354 | 1 | 16 |
| 22 | 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | 25.269 | 1.476 | 3 | 50 |
| 23 | 20 | Kevin Magnussen | Haas | 25.672 | 1.879 | 1 | 14 |
| 24 | 63 | George Russell | Mercedes | 26.297 | 2.504 | 2 | 33 |
| 25 | 24 | Zhou Guanyu | Sauber | 27.138 | 3.345 | 1 | 15 |
| 26 | 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 28.198 | 4.405 | 1 | 22 |
| 27 | 3 | Daniel Ricciardo | RB | 30.317 | 6.524 | 1 | 11 |
| 28 | 63 | George Russell | Mercedes | 32.696 | 8.903 | 1 | 11 |
| 29 | 27 | Nico Hulkenberg | Haas | 36.576 | 12.783 | 2 | 32 |
| 30 | 27 | Nico Hulkenberg | Haas | 38.875 | 15.082 | 1 | 5 |
2024 Italian Grand Prix
- Verstappen faces post-race investigation along with five other drivers and McLaren
- Red Bull lose constructors’ championship lead for first time in two years
- “Never had so much pain in a car”: How Colapinto impressed Williams on his debut
- F1’s most competitive season for 47 years? Four teams now have three wins each
- “Can I have my PU performance back?” – Verstappen’s “tough” Monza race on his radio
Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
1st September 2024, 21:15
Damn if you do, damn if you don’t. It’s easier to go on the alternative strategy when you’re the underdog in the race as was the case with Ferrari. The difference was marginal anyway, it could’ve gone both ways, just like Lewis and George at Spa (pre DSQ)
Mooa42
2nd September 2024, 5:21
+1, hindsight is a wonderful thing
notagrumpyfan
2nd September 2024, 7:37
Indeed.
The headline is incorrect stating that they were “killing their tyres” (more than Leclerc and the others).
It’s just that they didn’t believe in ‘rising from the dead’ as the Italians do.
jackl
2nd September 2024, 16:13
Not necessarily. Lando has proven he can nurse tires better than most. The should’ve split strategies putting Lando on the one stop and Piastri on the two. It was clear early on the Ferrari had good race pace so they couldn’t count on a big delta to be able to catch and overtake them.
I think the issue is they were so busy watching each other they didn’t see the threat from the Ferraris.
anon
2nd September 2024, 20:11
@fer-no65 given Monza has traditionally been a one stop race, it could be pointed out that it was those that were going for two stop strategies, such as McLaren, who were gambling on the alternative strategy paying off.
pcxmac (@pcxmac)
3rd September 2024, 10:51
No, The race was theirs if Piastri hadn’t decided to sabotage his own teammate’s championship run. Lando really has to pull his head out from under him self, and realize Oscar will end his champion ship run in a heart beat, Lando must destroy Oscar, by any means necessary, and make his team beg for him to give places back to his teammate.
David BR (@david-br)
1st September 2024, 21:20
Yep, Hamilton’s right, the lap time data shows the McLarens were racing each other rather than looking after their tyres Leclerc-style and allowing themselves tactical flexibility. Still, seems to be all part of their genius game plan to avoid having to compete for the WDC.
slowmo (@slowmo)
2nd September 2024, 0:38
I don’t even think they were racing each other that much, for the first stint Norris just sat behind Leclerc. It felt like they got their setup wrong on looking after the hard tyres and they pushed them too early after the stops which I concede was possibly when vying to beat each other to the undercut/overcut.
David BR (@david-br)
2nd September 2024, 10:17
@slowmo I watched a post-race YT video on the race that highlighted the fast lap times being traded mid race by Piastri and Norris and the damage being done to the left front. That data analysis confirms Hamilton’s imprecision that the two McLarens were racing each other rather than looking after the tyres – I’d take his assessment as informed and accurate.
AlexS
2nd September 2024, 1:51
If thy were racing each other to death how Leclerc was still so close? The fact is that Leclerc pushed Norris he was close. But Piastri was 5 seconds in front of Norris.
BasCB (@bascb)
2nd September 2024, 14:43
Yeah, I also think Hamilton saw that right. They were pushing the laps instead of just gently bedding those tyres in and making them last the distance.
pcxmac (@pcxmac)
3rd September 2024, 10:32
pretty much, Lando lost the lead because he didn’t think his teammate was stupid enough to throw the race, his mistake apparently. Lando has to see his teammate as an enemy, and destroy him completely. Even if it means ruining Piastri’s race, putting him off the track, running him off and in to a barrier, etc, He has to do what the guys leading the team refuse to do, and that’s win.
roadrunner (@roadrunner)
1st September 2024, 21:50
I don’t know. Leclerc was doing the same lap times as the McLaren and he made the one stopper work. So he was either plane faster or he could push and make his tyres last at the same time.
But Piastri was going just fine until they pitted him. It was really only Norris who fell away
PB
2nd September 2024, 2:43
Leclerc made the one stopper work by making his second stint right, not the first.
AlexS
1st September 2024, 22:11
Thanks to racefans laptime tool and reducing it to Leclerc, Piastri and Norris what is impressive is the consistency of Leclerc laptimes, like a robot. Even at last lap where he allowed himself to make almost same laptime as in lap 32.
Tricky (@tricky)
2nd September 2024, 7:58
Leclerc’s driving on those Hards was amazing – it looks like he would still be doing 1:23.5s this morning if they’d let him.
Jim from US (@jimfromus)
1st September 2024, 22:17
Like HAM but if McLaren blew it then so didn’t Mercedes and Red Bull. Those cars are good enough to beat McLaren if they do one less pit stop.
Edvaldo
1st September 2024, 22:56
Sainz didn’t blow it and could not beat the McLarens. If Mercedes and Red Bull were even further behind, there was no point in trying that.
Oliver Chew
3rd September 2024, 8:20
Russell was 3rd. Unfortunately, he blew it at the start
Osnola
1st September 2024, 22:24
Lewis always like to stir the pot ;)
But listening to his reaction on his own quali result he better focus on his own performance or lack thereoff
MadMax (@madmax)
1st September 2024, 22:59
There are others who should look after their qualy pace. And regarding race he was flawless, and achieved what was in the car. But we know your biased hate, so your distractor comment is as surprising as christmas in december.
Osnola
2nd September 2024, 11:53
“Hate”? What are you, in puberty or worse?
Stating the facts is never “hate”,.
And yes i am biased and well aware of it.
You are obviously not!
MadMax (@madmax)
2nd September 2024, 18:34
There are literally dozens of your anti Lewis comments all over any article related to him. So dont cry around for being called out on your biased hate. And dont claim to state facts when all you do is stating your twisted reality.
AdrianMorse (@adrianmorse)
2nd September 2024, 5:09
Lewis narrowly missed out on the fastest lap at the end there.
Mooa42
2nd September 2024, 5:23
It seemed to get lost in the race but it was good to see Franco Colapinto complete his first race and set the fastest lap of the 2 williams drivers. Very acceptable showing for his first F1 race
theRealMax (@millionus)
2nd September 2024, 7:50
Just the fact he wasn’t meandering around in 20th shows how bad Logan was on Sundays for the last few years.
Bullfrog (@bullfrog)
2nd September 2024, 8:17
Yes, couldn’t finish much higher than that in a tough midfield with Alonso and unlike de Vries 2 years ago, he had to race against Albon!
A good sign that Kimi and Ollie and Jack and all these F2 drivers will be just fine. Looking forward to seeing how Bearman goes in Baku (it will be him, Haas isn’t run by a nutter any more…)
EffWunFan (@cairnsfella)
2nd September 2024, 10:23
I guess I’m not as focused upon the relevant information as I should be as my take away from that was “why did Oscar refer to a 50 pence coin, and not a 50 cent coin?”
David
2nd September 2024, 11:26
Because Oscar has spent very little of his teenage and adult life in Australia. He has been UK based for a decade.