Ricciardo leads sensational McLaren 1-2 in Monza as Verstappen and Hamilton Collide.
P1 – RIC
P2 – NOR
P3 – BOT
Title Protagonists Collide
After Verstappen lost out to Ricciardo and Hamilton jumped Norris at the start, the title protagonists found themselves once again neck and neck in Monza.
After an incident early on in the race that was determined by the stewards “no investigation necessary,” there would be another race-ending incident later on that would certainly require a second look.
Verstappen and Hamilton were side by side through Variante del Rettifilo after the Mercedes man exited the pits on Lap 26. The drivers ultimately collided, sending the Red Bull of Max Verstappen on top of the Mercedes – literally. While both drivers walked away unharmed, tension clearly seems to be mounting as we get closer and closer to the end of the season.
Podium Finishers
Daniel Ricciardo claimed his first victory in the McLaren after driving an excellent race on Sunday. The Honeybadger got the better of his old Red Bull teammate at the start, maintaining control before and after the Hamilton/Verstappen collision to snag his eighth career victory.
McLaren teammate Lando Norris secured his best ever F1-race finish in P2. A dream day for McLaren!
As the sole Mercedes driver for the day, Valtteri Bottas finished an incredible P4 after starting P19. Thanks to the five-second penalty for Perez, the Finn was promoted to the podium.
Best of the Rest
The Ferrari of Charles Leclerc finished P4, despite the on-track tussle with Sergio Perez. Checo was classified P5 for the day, which likely wasn’t damage limitation Red Bull was hoping for.
Carlos Sainz finished in P6 for the day. The constructors championship seems to be heating up between McLaren and Ferrari!
Lance Stroll finished a respectable P7 in front of Fernando Alonso, George Russell, and Esteban Ocon rounding out the top ten for the day.
Looking Ahead
It’s lights out at the Sochi Autodrom in two weeks’ time. Can Red Bull charge the Mercedes’ stronghold in Russia?
