Daniel Ricciardo on Formula One win: I’m lost for words

McLaren’s Ricciardo finds it ‘insane’ to record one-two finish with teammate Lando Norris at Italian GP as championship leader Verstappen and Hamilton are eliminated after dramatic crash

Daniel Ricciardo won the Formula One Italian Grand Prix on Sunday as the Australian took advantage of Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen’s dramatic crash which 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 five-second time penalty for Sergio Perez. 

Max has five-point lead

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, greeting the fans in Italian with a huge smile on his face. “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,” said Ricciardo.

Max Verstappen (right) lands his Red Bull car on top of Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes during a collision at the Italian Formula One Grand Prix at the Autodromo Nazionale Circuit in Monza yesterday

“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.

Verstappen lashes out

Vertsappen was reportedly furious at Hamilton, saying his rival gave him “no space” in a crash which will be investigated by officials after the race. The pair then gave each other the blame in their post-race comments, with Hamilton saying he had given way in a similar position to Verstappen earlier while the Dutchman insisted Hamilton “pushed” him into the trackside sausage kerb.- ‘Awesome weekend’ Ricciardo then powered to victory backed up by his teammate Norris who was also in good spirits after an impressive second-placed finish.

“We’ve had a pretty awesome weekend,” the British driver said. “We’ve been working towards this and we got a one-two finally. I’m happy for of course Daniel for getting the win.” Verstappen started the race on pole after finishing second behind Bottas in Saturday’s sprint, but dropped back to second at the start as Ricciardo pipped ahead.

Also read: F1: Mercedes confirm George Russell for 2022

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