Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen crash as Daniel Ricciardo wins Italian Grand Prix
Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen crashed out of the Italian Grand Prix – with the halo appearing to save Britain’s seven-time world champion from serious injury.
Daniel Ricciardo took advantage of the extraordinary accident to claim McLaren’s first victory since the 2012 Brazilian Grand Prix.
The Australian driver led home a one-two finish for the British team with Lando Norris taking a career-best second.
Despite McLaren’s superb result, the afternoon at the Temple of Speed will be remembered for Hamilton’s collision with Verstappen.
After Hamilton left the pit-lane on lap 26, Verstappen drew alongside his championship rival at the Variante del Rettifilo in Monza.
Hamilton moved to his left to defend his position at the right-hander, with the Mercedes driver narrowly ahead for the ensuing left-hander.
Verstappen ran out of room, and ran over the kerb which launched his Red Bull out of control and into Hamilton’s Mercedes.
The rear of the Dutchman’s airborne machine ran over the top of Hamilton’s helmet, with the protective halo device absorbing the impact.
The front of Verstappen’s Red Bull was then beached in the gravel, and resting on Hamilton’s car.
A furious Verstappen said: “That is what happens when you don’t leave any room.”
The Dutchman jumped out of the cockpit and stormed away, without checking on Hamilton’s condition.
One lap later, Hamilton eventually emerged from his car, appearing to be unharmed.
The two men walked back to the paddock with the stewards now investigating the coming-together – their second in five races following the opening-lap crash at July’s British Grand Prix.
Hamilton told Sky Sports after the race: “I’m a little bit stiff and a bit sore on my neck. It (Verstappen’s car) landed on my head – but I’ll be OK.
“I made sure I left a car’s width on the outside for him. I went into turn one and I was ahead and was ahead going into turn two, then all of a sudden he was on top of me.
“It’s exactly the same scenario that happened in turn four (on the first lap) where I went round the outside – I was in exactly the same position, but I gave way. That’s racing.
“He didn’t want to give way today. He knew when he was going into (turn) two what was going to happen. He knew he was going over the kerb but he still did it. I don’t really know what to say.”
Asked whether he would discuss the incident with his title rival, Hamilton added: “I’m sure we’ll talk when we get to the stewards.”
Verstappen confirmed he was unhurt after the incident and said: “We realised it was going to be close into turn one so he cut across after the white line and I went around the outside.
“He realised I was going for it so he kept on squeezing me. I wanted to work with him, because I want to race.
“These things happen. Of course it was not nice at the time but I think we’re all professional enough to keep on racing.”
Ricciardo started second, but took the lead after beating Verstappen in the 430-metre charge to the opening chicane.