Daniel Ricciardo wins the Italian Grand Prix as title frontrunners Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton crash into each other at Monza

Daniel Ricciardo ended McLaren’s nine-year wait for a victory as he beat team-mate Lando Norris to victory in a tantalising Italian Grand Prix.

Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen collide

Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen’s days ended abruptly when on lap 26 the two collided at the first chicane in a bizarre crash that left Verstappen’s car on top of Hamilton. 

The Dutchman attempted to go around the outside of Hamilton, which put him on the inside for the next part of the chicane. But the two cars met in the middle. with the Red Bull of Verstappen hitting the orange ‘sausage curb’ that sent him on top of the Mercedes.

McLaren use the crash to their advantage

The McLarens took advantage of this and sealed a famous one-two for the Woking team. Their first victory since Jenson Button’s win in Brazil in 2012. Surprisingly, this was the first same team one-two this season.

The expectation coming into the race was that Verstappen, who started on pole, would take an easy win, particularly with Hamilton only fourth after a poor start in Saturday’s sprint qualifying race to decide the grid for the grand prix. 

But both McLaren drivers held their own after a great start and Ricciardo re-inherited the lead after Hamilton’s pit stop. Norris had lost out during the pit stops and was behind Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari when the race restarted after the extended safety car period.

The Briton chased Leclerc down the start-finish straight and then surprised the Monegasque by going on to the grass at high speed around the Curva Grande, passing him on the inside.

Valtteri Bottas finishes in third after a fine drive

Hamilton’s team-mate Valtteri Bottas – who started last because of a power unit change despite winning Saturday’s sprint qualifying – produced a superb recovery drive to claim the final podium place, albeit only after Red Bull’s Sergio Perez – who finished third on the track – was hit with a five-second penalty for failing to give a place back after an illegal overtake on Leclerc.

This put Perez back in fifth. The other Ferrari of Carlos Sainz finished in sixth. Lance Stroll finished in seventh for Aston Martin, with Fernando Alonso finishing in eighth. George Russell continued to show why Mercedes are giving him a seat next year by taking his Williams to ninth. Esteban Ocon rounded out the points paying positions for Alpine. 

By Charlie Parker