Ricciardo wins F1 Italian GP after Verstappen/Hamilton collision

McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo claimed a sensational victory at the Italian Grand Prix after Formula 1 title rivals Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton crashed out.

Ricciardo took the lead from Verstappen with a great start and led every lap on his way to scoring a famous win for McLaren, heading home a 1-2 for the team ahead of Lando Norris.

It ends a nine-year winning drought for McLaren, with the British outfit’s previous victory coming at the 2012 Brazilian Grand Prix. Ricciardo had dominated the opening stint of the race to stay ahead of Verstappen but the Australian’s route to an eighth career victory was cleared when Verstappen and Hamilton came to blows at Turn 1 in a dramatic incident.

Polesitter Verstappen had dropped down the order following an awful pit stop and was trying to pass Hamilton as the seven-time world champion emerged from the pits following his own stop.

Verstappen attempted to go around the outside but the pair collided at the exit and both cars ended up beached in the gravel, with Verstappen’s Red Bull landing on top of Hamilton’s Mercedes.

Ricciardo aced the restart following a lengthy safety car period, while teammate Norris jumped Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc to move into second, securing McLaren’s first 1-2 finish since the 2010 Canadian Grand Prix.

“For anyone who thought I left, I never left," Ricciardo exclaimed over team radio after crossing the line.

Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas turned in a stunning recovery drive from the back of the grid to complete the podium in third after Sergio Perez, who finished third on the road, was demoted to fourth with a time penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage when he passed Leclerc.