Classics Round 11: 2007 F1 at Monza

Classics Series – Round 11, Monza 2: 2007 F1 Rematch

If the Countach battle was pure 1980s excess, the second Monza showdown fast-forwarded two decades to the cutting edge of 2007 Formula 1. On one side, Tiara strapped into the scarlet Ferrari F2007—Kimi Räikkönen’s championship-winning machine, a car drenched in tifosi mythology. On the other, Shane climbed into the silver-and-red McLaren MP4/22, Lewis Hamilton’s rookie rocket. It was history, rivalry, and pride, all rolled into 53 laps of flat-out speed.

From the drop of the flag, Shane was locked in. The McLaren hugged Monza’s long straights and heavy braking zones like it was built for nothing else. Lap after lap he looked smoother, more comfortable, as if he’d found the rhythm of the circuit playing in his head like a metronome. Tiara, meanwhile, fought to keep her Ferrari in line, but the harder she pushed, the more the gap grew. Even the most loyal tifosi would have started sneaking glances toward Shane’s silver streak tearing away into the distance.

By the halfway mark, the writing was already on the pit wall. Shane’s McLaren wasn’t just quicker—it was untouchable. Tiara kept circulating, hoping for a mistake or mechanical drama, but none came. When the checkered flag waved, Shane had built a crushing 10-lap advantage, a total dismantling that left no doubt who owned Monza in the modern machines.

For Shane, it was redemption after the Countach calamity—proof that when given the right tools, he could deliver absolute dominance. For Tiara, it was a long evening in the Ferrari garage, muttering about aerodynamics, Bridgestones, and how Lewis Hamilton probably had it easier.