Ferrari 'not to blame' for Monza loss despite strategy gamble - Leclerc

Charles Leclerc has insisted Ferrari is not to blame after a strategy gamble failed to pay off at the Italian Grand Prix.

The Monégasque led from pole at Monza but rival Max Verstappen was behind in second having climbed from seventh on the grid in the first five laps.

When Sebastian Vettel's Aston Martin broke down on the run to Ascari on lap 12, a virtual safety car was called, allowing for a potential 'free' stop where less time is lost due to the reduced speed of rivals on the track.

But after taking the risk as Verstappen stayed on track, the VSC ended whilst Leclerc was in the pits and therefore took away at least half of the advantage the Scuderia would have gained with the ploy.

The early stop also forced the team to adopt a two-stop strategy, all but taking Leclerc out of contention.

Ferrari's strategy team and its failures have been a focal point of the season, with errors handing races to Verstappen and Red Bull on a plate.

But adamant no such issues arose at Monza, Leclerc said: "I think if you look at our season as a whole, for sure there's been mistakes and we need to get better.

"If it was a clear mistake? I don't think so because it was just our choice and looking back at it, you just cannot predict whenever the VSC is going to end.

"If I was not stopping, Max will have pitted and he will have had the same problem as I did.

"So nothing to blame on anybody there, just a little bit unlucky, and probably missing a little bit of pace too."

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