LEWIS HAMILTON will be gunning to take top spot back from Max Verstappen as the F1 season heads to Italy this weekend.
The Dutchman Verstappen went to the top of the Driver’s Championship after his victory at home in the Dutch Grand Prix last week.
And he will have pole at Monza after a dramatic qualifying session.
JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)
Follow all of the latest updates below…
2 FAST 2 FURIOUS
Hollywood A-lister Vin Diesel was in attendance today at Monza.
DAN THE MAN
Daniel Ricciardo was a bag of smiles on the podium, and even drank champagne in a trademark shoey.
RICCIARDO SPEAKS
Ricciardo says: “Can I swear?!”
“It’s about …. time!”
“I felt good and knew something good was to come.”
DANIEL RICCIARDO WINS THE ITALIAN GP
That is McLaren’s first win since 2012 – a total of 3,213 days ago!
Norris is second.
Perez is third.
Bottas is fourth.
TWO LAPS TO GO
Ricciardo has this. Heartbreak for Norris if he does not get the win.
LAP 48/53
It is Ricciardo, Norris, Perez, Bottas, Leclerc, Sainz, Stroll, Alonso, Russell, Ocon.
MAZEPIN IS OUT
The Haas driver becomes the fifth retirement of this race as his car loses power and grinds to a halt.
PEREZ AND BOTTAS FIGHTING FOR THIRD
Red Bull verses McLaren round 2. This could get tasty too.
NORRIS IS DESPERATE FOR THIS WIN
But the Aussie remains in P1. Will McLaren swap their drivers? Norris has been excellent this season.
PEREZ HAS A PENALTY
He is given a five second time penalty for leaving the track at turn one when he went wheel to wheel with Sainz.
Meanwhile…out in front.
LAP 36
Bottas is closing in… He can’t, can he?
A McLaren win would be popular though.
BOTTAS IS NOW FOURTH
He started last. Has a brand new engine. And is going for it.
Great drive so far.
IT IS ALL KICKING OFF
Perez moans at Sainz for not leaving him any room.
Bottas overtakes Leclerc who is forced wide into turn one.
And Mazepin and Schumacher – the two Haas teammates – also come together.
SAFETY CAR IN – WE ARE RACING AGAIN
Wonderful get away from Ricciardo, but what about Norris! Amazing overtake on Leclerc and into P2.
That was brave as he was forced wide and went on to the dirt. This is shaping up very well for McLaren.
HALO DOES IT’S JOB
Hamilton was saved serious injury thanks to the cockpit protection.
LEWIS IS HEADING BACK TO THE GARAGE
Max is also approaching the Red Bull garage.
BOTH DRIVERS ARE FURIOUS
Hamilton was coming out of the pits and into the first chicane. He was in the lead.
Verstappen should have backed out but Max being Max, refused to give and inch.
He hit the sausage kerb and is sent flying into Hamilton’s Mercedes. Taking them both out of the GP.
TV replays show that Hamilton could have been saved by the Halo.
HAMILTON AND VERSTAPPEN CRASH
Huge drama as the two championship leaders come together. Hamilton and Verstappen are BOTH out of this race.
Amazing scenes.
LAP 26 HAMILTON PITS FROM THE LEAD
His stop is 4.2 seconds and he is back on track.
LAP 24 HAMILTON GETS NORRIS
The Mercedes man eventually gets his countryman. He is in the lead but yet to stop.
DISASTER FOR VERSTAPPEN – A SLOW STOP
He stops for tyres at the end of lap 23 but he is stationary for 11.1 seconds.
LAP 23 RICCIARDO PITS
He stops from the lead for fresh tyres at the end of lap 22. His stop promotes Verstappen into the lead.
BOTTAS IS ON A CHARGE
The Merc man, who started last in 20th remember, is now up to ninth. That’s some going.
OCON AND VETTEL TOUCH
The Alpine man closed down Vettel and gave him no space.
That was a bit naughty from the Frenchman and the incident is being looked at by the stewards.
RICCIARDO AND NORRIS DOING A GREAT JOB
The Aussie is controlling the pace in front and leads from Verstappen.
And Norris is having to defend like hell to keep Hamilton behind him, but he is bringing Leclerc in to play.
Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
