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World champion Lewis Hamilton and challenger Max Verstappen, wedged together
Photo: MATTEO BAZZI / EPA
The duel between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton for the world title got a new dramatic escalation in Monza.
On the 27th lap of the Italian Grand Prix, Verstappen and his Red Bull catapulted Hamilton off the track while attempting to overtake, both cars wedged - the end for the two championship leaders.
The beneficiary of this spectacular crash was McLaren driver Daniel Ricciardo.
He won the Italian Grand Prix ahead of team-mate Lando Norris - it was the first one-two for McLaren in eleven years.
The start is particularly important on the tight track in Monza - and Daniel Ricciardo did the best.
He shot past Verstappen, and Lewis Hamilton also managed to overtake Ricciardo's teammate Norris and make up third place.
First attack right after the start
But then the world champion tried to attack his worst rival, Verstappen, in the first corner.
That didn't work, Hamilton had to briefly leave the track and drive over the limit, losing his third place again to Norris.
It stayed that way until the first pit stops.
Ricciardo, who drove to Mechanikergasse early, fell back to sixth after his tire change.
Verstappen's pit stop was even worse, he lost time and only found himself in tenth place.
And this despite the fact that Red Bull is usually considered to be the best and fastest team at pit stops.
The Dutchman tried to make up for this lapse afterwards, his attack on Hamilton was probably also seen under these auspices.
Both collided, the Red Bull even took off and landed on Hamilton's Mercedes.
They had already clashed in the race at Silverstone in July, when Hamilton got off lightly and won the home Grand Prix.
After the two leaders were eliminated, the race was interrupted for a good quarter of an hour, then it was continued.
Ricciardo defended his lead at the restart, he and Norris then did their laps with ease.
The two Haas drivers Mick Schumacher and Nikita Masepin dueled in the back field and continued their internal rivalry in this race.
Aha
