Charles Leclerc calls for Max Verstappen "craziness" to be repeated at Monza

Circuit Zandvoort during the Dutch Grand Prix — Photo: © LAT Images

Ferrari

Leclerc calls for Verstappen "craziness" to be repeated at Monza

There was a party atmosphere at Zandvoort in support of Red Bull driver

Ian Parkes

Wednesday 8 September 2021 10:35

Charles Leclerc has called on the Tifosi to replicate the "craziness" that surrounded Max Verstappen during the Dutch Grand Prix at Ferrari's home race in Italy this weekend.

For three days at Zandvoort, 70,000 ardent Verstappen supporters turned the circuit into a party zone, roaring on the Red Bull driver who rose to the challenge with a command performance that culminated in victory.

Leclerc is now hoping for similar scenes at Monza that welcomes back a 50% capacity crowd - around 50,000 fans - following last year's behind-closed-doors event.

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With memories also fresh from the scenes that greeted his 2019 victory at the track, Leclerc said: “Obviously, Monza is always extremely special for the drivers and for the team.

"It is the home for the team, and we can always feel the support. Obviously, what I lived in 2019, I will remember that for my whole life.

“This year might be a bit more difficult compared to 2019 but it will be good to feel the support.

"The craziness that we have seen for Max [at the Dutch GP] I hope to see it for us in Monza, but it is always very special to be racing at the home of Ferrari.”

Sainz hoping for happy Ferrari memories

For Carlos Sainz, the Italian GP weekend will be his first as a Ferrari driver and he is naturally expecting it to be one he will never forget.

But following his disappointing race in Zandvoort, which left him perplexed as to the loss of his pace, Sainz knows for Monza to be noteworthy he needs to rediscover his form. “Honestly, in terms of Monza, I think it is going to be a weekend that I am going to try and enjoy to the maximum," said Sainz.

“It is going to be a weekend that for sure I will remember all my life so I’m going to try and go there and enjoy it, make it memorable and try and have a strong result.

“But until Monza, unfortunately, I have a lot of homework to do, a lot of things to analyse and to try and find out with the engineers.

“I am sure, once I know more or less what happened in the race, I will try to reset the mind and go into Monza a lot happier.”