Ricciardo wins Italian Grand Prix as Hamilton, Verstappen crash out

Dutch, British drivers could not finish race after colliding on lap 26

By Can Erozden

ANKARA (AA) - McLaren's Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo was the victor in Sunday's Italian Grand Prix held in Monza.

The Formula One World Championship's Round 14 that Ricciardo won saw a crash between 2021 rivals – Red Bull-Honda's Max Verstappen from Netherlands and Mercedes' British star Lewis Hamilton – on lap 26.

Verstappen and Hamilton were wheel-to-wheel, but they collided while turning a bend.

Verstappen's back right tire touched Hamilton's left rear wheel, and the car fell on to the top of the Mercedes. The duo went off the circuit and both drivers had to leave the race.

Following the accident, they quit the vehicles unhurt.

Ricciardo won the 53-lap race at Autodromo Nazionale Monza with the time of 1:21:54.365.

His teammate Lando Norris finished second as he was 1.7 seconds behind, while Mercedes' Finnish driver Valtteri Bottas came third.

After the incident, stewards handed Verstappen "a three-place grid penalty for the Russian Grand Prix." It was ruled that he was "predominantly to blame" for the collision.

The next round in the Formula One 2021 season will be held in Russia's Sochi Autodrom on Sept. 26.

- Top 5 drivers in 2021 season

1. Max Verstappen (Netherlands): 226.5 points

2. Lewis Hamilton (Great Britain): 221.5

3. Valtteri Bottas (Finland): 141

4. Lando Norris (Great Britain): 132

5. Sergio Perez (Mexico): 118

- Constructor standings

1. Mercedes 362.5

2. Red Bull-Honda: 344.5

3. McLaren: 215

4. Ferrari: 201.5