The Italian national anthem echoed throughout the Autodromo Nazionale Monza from a thousand voices. Two massive red banners accentuated with yellow and a Prancing Horse logo covered the start/finish straight near the podium. Vibrant red smoke filled the air.

Smaller flags fluttered across the sea of people gathered on the straight, eyes fixed toward the podium at a 26-year-old Monegasque driver clad in a carbon-colored race suit. Charles Leclerc beamed back at the crowd, sharing a moment with the Ferrari faithful and Formula One team that few of them expected to win when the weekend began.