F1 Italian Grand Prix LIVE: Hamilton and Verstappen CRASH OUT of Monza race after big collision – latest updates
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.
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Follow all of the latest updates below...
LEWIS CONGRATULATIONS
Despite a horror crash at Monzo, Lewis Hamilton has taken to Instagram to congratulate the McLaren pair of Daniel Ricciardo and Lando Norris for their first and second finishes respectively.
He posted a story saying: "@danielricciardo @landonorris congratulations!!
"You guys did such a great job this weekend.
"So happy for you and my old team, it's nice to see you back at the top.
"Enjoy."
SHOVLIN SPEAKS
Mercedes track-side director Andrew Shovlin has slammed Max Verstappen after he and Lewis Hamilton crashed out of the Italian GP after a collision between the pair.
And Shovlin is adamant that Verstappen was at fault for the crash.
He said: "It's sad that Lewis' race had to end like this, but it's a relief that he had the extra protection of the halo today, otherwise it would have ended very badly.
"Max would never have made the corner, but it seems he always chooses to force it rather than concede a position to Lewis."
MAGIC MCLAREN
McLaren CEO Zak Brown is over the moon with his team's P1 and P2 finish at Monza today.
Daniel Ricciardo took the chequered flag first, followed by teammate Lando Norris.
And Brown told RacingNews365.com: "This is an insane win for us!
"It's one that we didn't see coming, especially because you don't want to believe in it too much, because we knew we were strong over the weekend. But I wouldn't have wanted a lot of money on a P1 and P2!
"We win here on our own power and speed and then we also finished with a 1-2, which makes it really great."
BOTTAS' DEBRIEF
Mercedes driver Valteri Bottas came from last to third to claim an impressive podium finish in Monza.
But even if he had started higher on the grid he doubts he would have been able to catch either of the two McLaren's.
He said: "When I was progressing quite quickly, in the beginning of the medium.
"I could actually see the two McLaren were pretty close and I was catching. But once I was behind Perez, really, in the train, of course, I was trying everything I could, but on the last few laps the tyres just started dropping and that was it.
"I think it would have been tricky to get past the McLaren, they’ve been getting strong all weekend, they have their strengths, especially on the straight lines.
"Like, yesterday, Lewis was trying everything he could but he couldn’t get past Lando, so I honestly think this was the maximum we could reach today."
LUCKY LEWIS
Lewis Hamilton has revealed he feels 'blessed' to still be alive after his horror crash in Monza.
The 'halo' in front of the Briton's head took the force of Verstappen's car as it hit him, saving his head from suffering a massive impact.
And Hamilton said: "I feel very fortunate today. Thank God for the halo which saved me, and saved my neck."
He went on to say: "I am so grateful I am still here. I feel incredibly blessed that someone was watching over me today.
"I don't think I've ever been hit on the head by a car before - and it is quite a big shock for me.
"We are taking risks and it's only when you experience something like that that you get the real shock of how you look at life and how fragile we all are.
"If you look at the images of the crash, my head is really quite far forward in the cockpit."
LANDO'S LOW-DOWN
Lando Norris has revealed he could have gone for the win after an excellent second place finish in Monza, but held back after seeing the crash between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen.
Norris said: "I got a bit closer on one lap, and I don’t know why but I had a few flashes of seeing the incident between Max and Lewis, because I saw it quite well in my mirrors.
"So when I thought, maybe I'll try, that kind of was flashing up in my head, and I thought, maybe this isn’t the wisest decision.
“I would have loved to go for the win, but our first and second, I think I’m just as happy with.
"The feeling I get for the team is priority over my own feeling in a way.
"I’m here for many more years I hope, especially with McLaren and the whole team, so I feel like I still have an opportunity in the future to try and go for it. But in this moment and instance, I was happy just staying where I was."
SHE’S RAD
Daniel Ricciardo won the Italian Grand Prix despite staying up way past his bedtime to cheer on Emma Raducanu.
Raducanu, who is an F1 nut and counts Ricciardo as one of the 25 people she follows on Twitter, was at this year’s British GP.
She said at Silverstone: “When I have time, I love to watch Formula One and I’ve started to follow it week-by-week.
“I watched the British Grand Prix and Daniel Ricciardo is my favorite driver.”
And the Aussie was quick to praise her success after claiming his first F1 victory since 2016 in a shock McLaren one-two at Monza.
He said: “I probably shouldn’t say this, but I watched it. I went past my bedtime last night."
WHAT IS A HALO IN F1
The halo saved Lewis Hamilton from serious injury today.
It was introduced back in 2018 and is an added safety feature now included on all F1 cars, acting as titanium ring of protection around the driver's cockpit.
It is designed to prevent drivers from getting injuries from flying debris or suffering head trauma like in the tragic case of Bianchi.
The F1 governing body took a long time to research and test the design, which does slightly impact the field of view for drivers.
When it was launched there was also criticism from some fans, who believed the hefty new structure around the cockpit meant they couldn't see the racers properly.
'SHE SHOWED EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE'
Formula One stars paid tribute to British tennis sensation Emma Raducanu after her astonishing victory in the US Open.
Raducanu, who is an F1 nut and counts Daniel Ricciardo as one of the 25 people she follows on Twitter, was at this year's British GP.
And the drivers were quick to praise her success, with Ricciardo staying up late to watch the match.
He said: "I probably shouldn't say this, but I watched it! I went past my bedtime last night.
"I started watching it and it was a good game. Just how hard they hit ball! I was like -- little powerhouses! It was awesome, I couldn't switch it off.
"I certainly exceeded my bed time but Emma did great. Really, really good to see. I know she was at Silverstone, I missed her there, but look forward to welcoming her to another race this year.
"Seeing her play last night, she was not overwhelmed and just backing yourself is just so important."
Seven-time world champion, Lewis Hamilton, says the whole of the UK should be proud of her achievement.
He added: "It is just incredible to see her rise. The focus that she has, the sheer determination. She's such a sweet person as well.
"The UK has something to be really proud of in her. Can't wait to see what she does next.
"You can take inspiration from anyone and she's definitely an inspiring figure. She just showed everything is possible."
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.