Daniel Ricciardo won an Italian Grand Prix where championship leader Max Verstappen and title rival Lewis Hamilton suffered a crash that ended their day on Sunday.
Ricciardo gave McLaren a first victory in almost nine years (Jenson Button in 2012, in Brazil).
Ricciardo hadn’t won a race since Monaco in 2018. He finished 1.747 seconds ahead of teammate Lando Norris and 4.921 seconds ahead of Valtteri Bottas of Mercedes. The latter started from the back of the grid, because of a penalty linked to a new engine.
Ricciardo celebrated in his usual way: he drank champagne poured into one of his shoes – he even got Norris to emulate him.
” It has been a long time. It’s wonderful, said Ricciardo. We didn’t have top speed, but that was enough to keep Max behind us. I had a feeling since Friday that something good was about to happen. “
The Verstappen – Hamilton incident occurred on the 26th of the 53 laps of the event.
Hamilton was leading when it came time to go to the pits. He returned to the track just in front of Verstappen. The Red Bull rider wanted to get inside on a bend, while the seven-season champion tried to defend his position.
On impact, Verstappen’s fireball overcame the Mercedes and both cars went over gravel.
“This is what happens to you when you don’t free up space,” an enraged Verstappen told Team Radio.
Both drivers were able to get out of their cars, although Hamilton took much longer to do so.
The Stewards studied the streak, coming to the conclusion that the fault lay largely with Verstappen. He will lose three places in view of the starting grid of the Russian Grand Prix on September 26.
“I’m proud of the commissioners,” said Hamilton. I need some time to think about the incident, but I believe the penalty sets a precedent.
“It is important for the safety of the pilots that there are strict rules in place. “
Hamilton believes the ring in front of the cockpit may have saved his life.
“It’s still a shock, Hamilton admitted, several hours after the contact. And I have been a pilot for a very long time. I’m so grateful to still be here, I feel so blessed. It looked like someone was watching over me (Sunday). “
At the top of the drivers’ standings, Verstappen is five points ahead of Hamilton.
“You have to have two people working together on a turn,” Verstappen said of the collision.
“Lewis kept approaching and there was no room for two cars. I wanted to drive intensely but with respect for sportsmanship.
“I do not totally agree with the penalty. I am of the opinion that it is an incident coming from the course of a race, he continued.
“What happened is very unfortunate, but we are both professionals. We will move on. “
Ricciardo had a great start, with the Australian delighting the pole at Verstappen on the first corner.
Behind Hamilton, starting fourth, managed to pass Norris, but an attempt to take the outside at Verstappen’s expense sent him onto the turf. Norris has therefore resumed his place.
“He (Verstappen) pushed me aside! Hamiton said on team radio.
Norris kept his gains, and an annoyed Hamilton saw Ricciardo and Verstappen drift further apart with each lap.
Visiting the pits on lap 23, Ricciardo came out seventh.
Having trouble with his tires, Verstappen stopped on lap 24.
He had to stay in the pits for 11.1 seconds, during which time Hamilton edged Norris in first place. Soon after, Hamilton and Verstappen’s race ended in a collision.
A penalty slipped Red Bull’s Sergio Perez from fourth to fifth place, between Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz.
Lance Stroll finished seventh behind the wheel of his Aston Martin.
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