By RaceScene Publisher on Monday, 13 September 2021
Category: Paddock Magazine

2021 Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix highlights

Introduction

 

A dramatic crash between title protagonists Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen that took both drivers out of the race cleared the way for Daniel Ricciardo to claim a sensational victory in the 2021 Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix, giving McLaren their first race win since the 2012 Brazilian Grand Prix – and a one-two to boot, as he led home teammate Lando Norris, with Valtteri Bottas taking third, in a thrilling race at Monza.

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Hamilton was exiting the pits on Lap 26 of 53 when he arrived alongside Verstappen, the pair going side by side through the Variante del Rettifilo, but making contact, with Verstappen flying through the air and coming to rest on top of the Mercedes. Both drivers were unhurt, but out of the race, with the stewards set to investigate after the 2021 Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix.

Ricciardo was a deserving winner, however, having passed Verstappen for the lead at the race start from P2 on the grid, before Verstappen and Hamilton’s clash cleared the way for him to control the race to sweep home to an eighth career victory. Lando Norris secured his best ever race finish with P2, having been told to hold station behind his teammate in the final moments of the Grand Prix.

We’re an international sport so everyone has been aware of some of the struggles I’ve had this year. I think to come back from that, not only to win but as a team to get a one-two… I don’t know. It’s crazy. I think after Friday… even before Friday, but I knew after Friday that we had something this weekend.

Daniel Ricciardo
Driver, McLaren Racing

Having started P19, Bottas claimed third, finishing fourth on the road behind Red Bull’s Sergio Perez, before Perez had a five-second penalty added to his time for passing Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc off the track.

Perez would eventually be classified fifth behind Leclerc, while Carlos Sainz took sixth on his first ever outing for Ferrari at Monza. Lance Stroll was seventh for Aston Martin – but under investigation for a yellow flag infraction – with Alpine’s Fernando Alonso eighth, ahead of the Williams of George Russell in ninth as the second Alpine of Esteban Ocon completed the top 10.

So, a huge moment for Ricciardo, Norris and McLaren – with Ricciardo also claiming a point for fastest lap on the final tour. But the ramifications of Hamilton and Verstappen’s crash are sure to be a major talking point this evening.

Mario Isola – Head of F1 and car racing at Pirelli commented:

Both McLaren drivers used the same medium to hard strategy that was adopted by the majority of the field at the 2021 Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix, but Valtteri Bottas and Mercedes also showed what was possible with the opposite strategy. The performance of the hard tyre here was underlined by the fact that Daniel Ricciardo set the fastest lap on the final lap, having managed the race perfectly since the restart. Today’s warm weather certainly favoured the hard and medium compounds, which both showed minimal degradation, while at the opposite end of the spectrum, it was a bit too warm for the soft to show its speed advantage.

2021 Formula 1 Italian GP Race Results

PosNoDriverCountryTeamTimePointsOverall
1.3Daniel RicciardoAustraliaMcLaren Racing1:21:54.3652683
2.4Lando NorrisGreat BritainMclaren Racing+1.747s18132
3.77Valtteri BottasFinlandMercedes-AMG Petronas+4.921s15141
4.16Charles LeclercMonacoScuderia Ferrari+7.309s12104
5.11Sergio PerezMexicoRed Bull Racing Honda+8.723s10118
6.55Carlos SainzSpainScuderia Ferrari+10.535s897.5
7.18Lance StrollCanadaAston Martin F1 Team+15.804s624
8.14Fernando AlonsoSpainAlpine F1 Team+17.201s450
9.63George RussellGreat BritainWilliams Racing+19.742s215
10.31Esteban OconFranceAlpine F1 Team+20.868s145
11.6Nicholas LatifiCanadaWilliams Racing+23.743s07
12.5Sebastian VettelGermanyAston Martin F1 Team+24.621s035
13.99Antonio GiovinazziItalyAlfa Romeo F1 Team+27.216s01
15.88Robert KubicaPolandAlfa Romeo F1 Team+29.769s00
15.47Mick SchumacherGermanyHaas F1 Team+51.088s00
16.9Nikita MazepinRussiaHaas F1 TeamDNF00
17.44Lewis HamiltonGreat BritainMercedes-AMG PetronasDNF0221.5
1.33Max VerstappenNetherlandsRed Bull RacingDNF0224.5
4.10Pierre GaslyFranceScuderia AlphaTauriDNF066
15.22Yuki TsunodaJapanScuderia AlphaTauriDNF018

Here are the team-by-team highlights:

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