Double victory for McLaren – next crash in the title race

Max Verstappen trudged after the crazy crash at Monza Back in the garage, Lewis Hamilton climbed out of his demolished Mercedes in disbelief. Stranded in the gravel bed and with cars wedged together, the Italian Grand Prix ended prematurely for the Formula 1 title rivals on Sunday. Laughing third after another extremely tough duel between World Championship leader Verstappen and world champion Hamilton was the Australian Daniel Ricciardo, who gave McLaren its first Grand Prix victory in nine years.

His British teammate Lando Norris came second in the 14th race of the season ahead of Valtteri Bottas in the Mercedes, who started from the back. Due to the accident on lap 26 and the double exit, Verstappen maintained his championship lead with a five-point lead over Hamilton. Both were uninjured in the violent collision. But the images were spectacular when Verstappen's Red Bull took off and landed on Hamilton's Mercedes. Both cars slid off the track and got stuck there. “This is what happens when you don’t leave any room,” Verstappen radioed to the pits.

The tough World Cup duel is gradually becoming reminiscent of the hate duels between Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost around 30 years ago. Verstappen and Hamilton had already crashed into each other at Silverstone in mid-July. At that time, the series champion won, while the 23-year-old challenger had to go to the hospital. Sprint races continue to shake up Formula 1 For the second time, Formula 1 determined the starting order for the Grand Prix with the new sprint race on Saturday. But winner Bottas was not allowed to take pole position because Mercedes changed the engine in the Finn's car for the fourth time this year for tactical reasons and, according to the rules, he had to move to the back of the field. So Verstappen parked at the front of the starting grid, through which former sprint star Usain Bolt and Italy's 100-meter Olympic champion Lamont Marcell Jacobs strolled.

When the red lights went out, Ricciardo appeared to have borrowed from Bolt and Jacobs and raced irresistibly past Verstappen. “We have already seen in the past that there is no point in taking a conservative approach, so full attack,” announced McLaren team boss Andreas Seidl – and his Australian driver implemented this perfectly. With an excellent start, Daniel Ricciardo took the lead. © APA/afp / ANDREJ ISAKOVIC

Behind him, Hamilton took third place and after a few corners he also attacked Verstappen. As has happened several times this year, the two cars came into contact; this time the Mercedes star slipped off the track and returned in fourth place. Because Antonio Giovinazzi behind him lost control of his Alfa Romeo after a fight with both Ferraris and lost the front wing, the race management ordered a virtual safety car.

The race was soon reopened, but initially nothing changed at the top. Ricciardo kept Verstappen behind him, Norris didn't let Hamilton pass. Only Bottas plowed through the field from behind in the powerful Mercedes and soon had his sights set on the points. The working day was much more difficult for Vettel. First he lost out in a duel with his teammate Lance Stroll, then he was almost pushed off the track by Alpine pilot Esteban Ocon. The Frenchman received a five-second penalty for this. Vettel, however, remained stuck deep in midfield. Title fight reaches next peak – Ricciardo laughing third Then things got dramatic. Verstappen's pit stop went wrong; the otherwise quick Red Bull mechanics needed more than eleven seconds to change the tires. This maneuver usually takes little more than two seconds. So the Dutchman fell far behind. When Hamilton got new rubber rollers and drove out of the pit lane again, the two championship opponents were suddenly right next to each other. Nobody wanted to give in, Verstappen rumbled over the curbs and then found himself on Hamilton's Mercedes.

The safety car was deployed until the damaged cars had been cleared from the chicane. At the restart, Ricciardo sped away. Norris had to fight hard against Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc, but ultimately remained second. The tension lasted until the end because the field remained close together on the high-speed circuit. Then Ricciardo was able to celebrate the eighth victory of his Formula 1 career and McLaren celebrated the biggest day in a long time.

In the rankings, Verstappen continues to lead ahead of defending champion and seven-time champion Hamilton. Five points separate the two in their thrilling duel for the World Cup crown before the Russian Grand Prix in Sochi in two weeks. The result of the race in Monza. © F1

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Double victory for McLaren – next crash in the title race

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