Ricciardo breaks F1 drought

AUSTRALIAN Daniel Ricciardo has won the Italian Grand Prix as McLaren secured a stunning one-two finish in Monza on Sunday.

It was Ricciardo’s first Formula 1 win since Monaco in 2018 and McLaren’s first since Jenson Button saluted in Brazil in 2012.

Starting second on the grid, Ricciardo finished 1.747 seconds ahead of McLaren teammate Lando Norris to claim his eighth career Grand Prix victory.

“About time,” Ricciardo told Sky Sports.

“It worked well for me yesterday [Saturday], and to be honest even if we got the start [from second on the grid] it was never a guarantee we’d lead the whole race.

“I was able to just hold firm out front [in] the first stint. I don’t think we had mega speed, but it was enough to keep Max [Verstappen] behind.

“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.”

Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas finished in third, while championship leader Max Verstappen and defending champion Lewis Hamilton crashed out on lap 26.

McLaren clinched 45 points to move up to third in the team standings behind Red Bull and Mercedes.

Verstappen holds a five-point lead over Hamilton in the driver standings after 14 rounds.

 

– BY ALEX ZAIA/ SEN