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Ricciardo leads McLaren to first 1-2 since 2010

Daniel Ricciardo, McLaren MCL35M, leads Lando Norris, McLaren MCL35M, and Sir Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W12 side on

Daniel Ricciardo has led McLaren to their first 1-2 since the 2010 Canadian Grand Prix, crossing the line ahead of teammate Lando Norris in an action-packed Italian Grand Prix at Monza.

Ricciardo had the better pace off the line, getting ahead of the pole sitter going into the first turn, while Hamilton moved up the third, and looked to challenge Verstappen for second.

The title contenders went wheel to wheel, with Hamilton running wide after minor contact with the Red Bull driver, dropping him back down to fourth.

Further back, there was drama was for the only Italian driver on the grid, Antonio Giovinazzi, as he spun round after contact with Carlos Sainz, leaving him without a front wing.

AlphaTauri’s day was over after just five laps. A brake issue meant Yuki Tsunoda wasn’t able to take the start, while last year’s Monza winner Pierre Gasly came into the pits to retire.

Valtteri Bottas started from the back row due to an engine penalty, but the Finn made quick progress, climbing eight places in the first 11 laps of the race.

With Hamilton starting on the hard tyre and looking to go long before making his pitstop, Verstappen pushed to clear Ricciardo, but the McLaren had too much pace. However, Hamilton couldn’t get close enough to move back ahead of Norris, allowing Charles Leclerc in fifth to close in on the battle for third place.

Esteban Ocon picked up a five-second time penalty as he forced Sebastian Vettel wide while trying to move up towards the points, while Giovinazzi was penalised for not rejoining the track properly after his earlier off.

With Bottas charging through the field, the front runners had to pit, with Ricciardo the first to come in. Verstappen came in for fresh tyres on the next lap, but it was a slow stop for the Red Bull crew, dropping the championship leader down the order.

Hamilton stopped two laps later, and rejoined the track level with Verstappen. The pair went wheel to wheel through the chicane, before the two collided, with Verstappen’s rear wheel lifted off the ground, clattering into Hamilton’s rear wing and coming to rest on the Mercedes, taking both drivers out of the race.

Hamilton tried to reverse out from under the Red Bull, but the pair were wedged together, with the safety car needed to clear the scene.

Norris fought hard with Leclerc on the restart to move up to second, while Sergio Perez also picked up a couple of positions after the safety car returned to the pits, but earned himself a five-second penalty for gaining an advantage of the track.

The stewards were kept busy as the Haas drivers had a coming together, with Nikita Mazepin found to be at fault for spinning teammate Mick Schumacher. The Russian was given a time penalty, but retired a few laps later with a power unit issue.

Bottas tried to get ahead of Perez as he sought to close the gap on the McLarens ahead, but the Finn went deep under braking, letting the remaining Red Bull in the race maintain track position.

Perez’s penalty meant he dropped down to fifth, despite holding onto third on the track, while Ricciardo picks up an extra point for setting for the fastest lap of the race.

Provisional classification:

1 Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren)

2. Lando Norris (McLaren)

3. Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes)

4. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)

5. Sergio Perez (Red Bull)

6. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)

7. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)

8. Fernando Alonso (Alpine)

9. George Russell (Williams)

10. Esteban Ocon (Alpine)

11. Nicholas Latifi (Williams)

12. Sebastian Vettel (Aston Martin)

13. Antonio Giovinazzi (Alfa Romeo)

14. Robert Kubica (Alfa Romeo)

15. Mick Schumacher (Haas)

DNF:

Nikita Mazepin (Haas)

Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)

Max Verstappen (Red Bull)

Pierre Gasly (AlphaTauri)

DNS:

Yuki Tsunoda (AlphaTauri)

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