Yet at this home race the pressure has been applied with an added frisson of intensity. Leclerc, who has seen his early season optimism of fighting for the title disappear, echoed Elkann afterwards but insisted the team had to do better everywhere, not just Monza. “We need to become a team that does not make mistakes wherever we go,” he said. It is now a matter of pride as Verstappen remains in complete control of the title race, with a 109-point lead over both Leclerc and Red Bull teammate Sergio Pérez.

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