‘It’s insane’: Ricciardo completes Italian job
DANIEL Ricciardo has claimed the Italian Grand Prix as the Australian took advantage of Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen’s dramatic crash that eliminated both championship rivals.
Ricciardo was followed by his McLaren teammate Lando Norris in the British team’s first win since the 2012 Brazilian GP, while Valtteri Bottas inherited third, despite starting in last place, due to a time penalty for Sergio Perez.
Red Bull’s Verstappen still leads seven-time world champion Hamilton by five points at the top of the drivers’ standings as they both finished in the gravel following their crash halfway through the race.
Ricciardo, whose father is from Italy, was delighted with not only his first win since Monaco in 2018 but also McLaren’s first one-two finish in 11 years.
“To lead literally from start to finish, I don’t think any of us expected that. There was something in me on Friday, I knew something good was to come,” Ricciardo said.
“To not only win but to get a one-two, it’s insane. For McLaren to be on the podium it’s huge, let alone one-two … For once I’m lost for words.”
The 32-year-old promised “total attack” after starting second on the grid and capitalised on the most dramatic moment of an eventful race when Hamilton re-entered the Monza track from the pit lane.
Vertsappen tried to dart past Hamilton just after the Briton’s pit stop but ended up with his back wheel rolling over the top of his rival’s Mercedes, narrowly missing Hamilton’s head.
Both drivers then slid into the gravel and were forced to retire from the race, which Hamilton was hoping to make his 100th grand prix victory.