Ricciardo tastes victory again at Monza, Verstappen and Hamilton on the mat 

As expected, this 2021 Italian Grand Prix was very lively on the track and will be very lively in the offices of the team directors very soon.

Second on the grid, Daniel Ricciardo quickly set the tempo of this Sunday race by grilling politeness at Max Verstappen (Red Bull) in the first round while Lando Norris (McLaren) did his best to resist Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) in the obligation to come back in order to take big points for the championship.

Installed in the lead, the Australian then had an excellent first part of the race holding back an unleashed Max Verstappen behind him. But it was as the halfway mark approached that this Italian Grand Prix experienced a turnaround.

Le replay du départ 🎬⏪ #ItalianGP

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— CANAL+ F1® (@CanalplusF1) September 12, 2021

While the first pit stops were being made, Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton were the protagonists of one of the most unusual accidents in recent years. Launched like a cannonball at the start of the 26th lap, the first city attempted a very daring attack on the Englishman at the first braking in order to get back into contact with the leading car and above all to not let his Mercedes counterpart slip away.

With little room on the track, the outcome was inevitable and the two men came into contact, ending up on top of each other in the gravel trap with a retirement for each. “ That's what you get when you leave no room », cursed Max Verstappen towards Lewis Hamilton as he returned to his pit box.

If the race management has not yet given its verdict in this matter, the rivalry between the Dutchman and the Briton has just experienced a new heated episode which risks adding a little more spice to the end of the season and their battle for the title. .

These images will GO AROUND THE WORLD 🤯

Crash enters #Verstappen et # Hamilton au #ItalianGP 💥

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— CANAL+ F1® (@CanalplusF1) September 12, 2021

Meanwhile, the race restarted with Daniel Ricciardo in the lead. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) and Lando Norris. Without flinching, the Australian took cover while his teammate made life difficult for the driver of the Team for the gain of 2nd position.

Behind, Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) was at the forefront after starting from 19th place. Nestled in the exhausts of Leclerc, the future driver Alfa Romeo moved up to 4th place with Sergio Pérez (Red Bull) in his sights.

At the front, Daniel Ricciardo took advantage of this duel between the men of Mercedes and Red Bull to make a gap. Lando Norris positioned behind him, the Australian took definitive cover with 10 laps to go and had a boulevard in front of him towards the checkerboard.

His MCL35M performed very well throughout the weekend, the Honey Badger was then able to take his first victory since the Monaco Grand Prix in 2018 while Lando Norris gave McLaren the first double since Canada in 2010 (Hamilton/Button).

Le podium du Grand Prix d'Italie 🍾

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— CANAL+ F1® (@CanalplusF1) September 12, 2021

Fourth on the line, Valtteri Bottas finally inherits the podium thanks to the 5-second penalty inflicted on Sergio Pérez for a poor overtake on Charles Leclerc shortly after halfway. The latter two also complete the Top 5 of the Italian Grand Prix.

Behind, Alpine signs a new double finish in the points thanks to the 8th position of Fernando Alonso and the 10th ofEsteban Ocon. George Russell (Williams) ends between the two men. After having changed many elements on his AT02 before departure, Pierre Gasly (Alpha Tauri) does not even see the end of the first round this Sunday.

Status quo at the top of the Drivers' standings with Max Verstappen still ahead of Lewis Hamilton. The Dutchman ends the Monza weekend with a 5-point lead over his runner-up. Daniel Ricciardo moves up to 8th place and is 14,5 lengths behind Carlos Sainz installed in front of him. Pierre Gasly is 9th with 66 units.

Find the analysis of the Italian Grand Prix by our experts in AUTOhebdo No. 2329, available from Monday evening in digital version and Wednesday on newsstands.