Standings leader Max Verstappen and defending champion Lewis Hamilton crashed at the Italian Grand Prix, which McLaren driver Daniel Ricciardo won on Sunday.
It was McLaren’s first win in nearly nine years since Jenson Button crossed the checkered flag in Brazil in 2012.
It was also Ricciardo’s first win since Monaco in 2018. He finished the race 1.747 seconds ahead of teammate Lando Norris and 4.921 seconds ahead of Valtteri Bottas, who showed a strong performance after a penalty for a new engine after starting from the back of the field .
But the biggest talking point of the race came on lap 26.
Hamilton pitted from the front and returned to the track shortly before Verstappen. The Red Bull driver tried to get in on a corner as the seven-time champion defended his position.
When the two made contact, Verstappen’s car catapulted itself to the top of the Mercedes as both slid into the gravel. The protective halo ring on the front of F1 car cockpits may have saved Hamilton from serious injury.
“You get that if you don’t leave the pitch,” said an angry Verstappen over the team radio.
Both drivers were able to get out of their cars, although it took Hamilton a long time to get out of his and only climbed after Verstappen’s long walk.
The Stewards will investigate the incident after the race.
Ricciardo won the race after a brilliant start that allowed the Australian to overtake Verstappen, who started from pole position on turn one.
Behind them, Hamilton, who had started fourth, was able to overtake Lando Norris. But then he tried to bypass the outside of Verstappen and went into the second chicane and was instead forced across the grass, allowing Norris to regain his place.
“He (Verstappen) pushed me far!” Hamilton called over the team radio.
Hamilton was then stopped by Norris and could only watch in frustration as Ricciardo and Verstappen expanded their lead lap by lap.
Ricciardo pitted first on lap 23 and finished seventh. Verstappen struggled with his tires and stopped on the following lap.
But after a failed pit stop of 11.1 seconds, he came out tenth and to top it off, Hamilton had in the meantime overtaken Norris and taken the lead.
But shortly afterwards a disaster struck both drivers.
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