Daniel Ricciardo wins in Monza like Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton’s crash

Werdi Eylül 26, 2021

Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo won the Italian Grand Prix in a race scored by world championship leader Max Verstappen and reigning champion Lewis Hamilton who fell in a frightening crash.

It was Ricciardo’s first win from Monaco in 2018 and McLaren’s first win in nearly nine years since Jenson Button took the checkered flag in Brazil in 2012.

The Western Australian finished 1,747 seconds ahead of McLaren teammate Lando Norris and 4,921 seconds ahead of Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas, who performed well after starting from the back of the grid due to a penalty for getting a new engine.

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But the biggest talking point of Sunday’s race came on lap 26.

Hamilton had stopped at the head of the race and was back on track right in front of Verstappen.

The Red Bull driver tried to climb the inside of the corners while the seven-time world champion defended his position.

When the two met, Verstappen’s car catapulted onto the roof of the Mercedes as they both slipped through the gravel.

Daniel Ricciardo in the midst of the celebrations of the Italian Grand Prix. (Getty)

The protective ring in the front of the cockpits of Formula 1 cars may have saved Hamilton from serious injuries.

“This is what you get when you don’t leave the gap,” a furious Verstappen said on the team radio.

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Both drivers were able to get away from their cars, even though Hamilton took a long time to get out of his, climbing only after Verstappen was long gone.

The commissioners are now investigating the incident.

Max Verstappen’s Red Bull finishes sensationally above Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes at the Italian Grand Prix. (Getty)

Ricciardo won the Monza race after a brilliant start allowed him to overtake Verstappen, who started from pole position, at the first corner.

Behind them Hamilton, who started fourth, managed to overtake Norris.

But Hamilton then tried to get around Verstappen’s outside heading for the second chicane and was instead forced to flee onto the grass, allowing Norris to regain his place.

Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen got stuck in the gravel after the dramatic Monza crash. (Getty)

“He (Verstappen) pushed me hard!” Hamilton told the team radio.

Hamilton was then held back by Norris and could only watch in frustration as Ricciardo and Verstappen extended their lead lap after lap.

Ricciardo was the first to pit, on lap 23, and came out seventh.

Verstappen was struggling with the tires and stopped on the next lap.

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But a failed pit stop that lasted 11.1 seconds saw him come out tenth and, as if that weren’t enough for the Dutchman, Hamilton had meanwhile overtaken Norris to take the lead.

But disaster struck shortly thereafter for both drivers.