The Italian Grand Prix kicked off to complete drama and sizzling action when Red Bull's Max Verstappen crashed with Lewis Hamilton right at the Rettifilo chicane in the Monza Circuit. Verstappen tried to go around the outside of Hamilton at the first part and then inside at the second. He ran out of road, whacked the kerb with his Red Bull launched over the top of Hamilton’s Mercedes.
The Brit escaped what would have been a serious injury thanks to Halo, but even then the tyre did make contact with his helmet. With both cars in the dirt and Verstappen’s partially on top of Hamilton, the Dutchman climbed out and walked away without even checking on his British rival. Verstappen could be heard on his team's radio saying: "That's what you get when you don't leave the space." Both drivers were able to walk away from the incident.
After thorough investigations by the motorsport world governing body, FIA, Max Verstappen has now been handed a three-place grid penalty for the next Formula 1 race after he was found "predominantly to blame" for the crash with Lewis Hamilton at the Italian GP. Verstappen will have to serve his penalty at the Russian GP on September 26 as stewards, following a post-race investigation, ruled that he caused the collision that ended both the championship rivals' races.
Ahead of the drama, Daniel Ricciardo produced a calm and collected performance to win his first race of the season. The Australian overtook Verstappen before the first corner of the first lap to come from second place in the grid and led for the majority of the race. His teammate Lando Norris made it a McLaren 1-2, finishing second ahead of Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas.