Leclerc: "It's very difficult to find the words to describe what I felt"

2019 brought a first Italian Grand Prix victory for Ferrari since 2010, on that occasion Fernando Alonso stood on top of the podium. Charles Leclerc still finds it hard to put into words what his victory at Monza meant to him.

Leclerc won a dramatic race in Italy, holding off Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas in the closing stages. It was his second win on the bounce having previously won the Belgian Grand Prix. 

It was a first Ferrari victory at the circuit since Fernando Alonso won the Italian Grand Prix in 2010. The Monegasque has admitted he still struggles to find the words to describe the emotions of that memorable race.

"It's very difficult to find the words to describe what I felt during this race [at Monza]," said Leclerc at Autosport International 2020.

"I had a lot of pressure - the whole team had a lot of pressure - because obviously we were in Italy, Ferrari is huge in Italy, and everyone wanted us to win so there was big pressure around the whole team.

"The week started from the Monday, which is quite different from the other grands prix because normally as drivers we start on the Thursday, but we started on the Monday with some events in Milan and things like this.

"So the pressure was building up. Then doing the pole was something special already, but then I had to focus on the race and in the race I had no space to breathe. I had Lewis all the race at less than two seconds, I think, so a lot of pressure. And then to be on the podium, to finally have won the race, and to see the red army under the podium was something extremely special."