Australian driver, Daniel Ricciardo has won the Italian Formula One Grand Prix overnight, to claim his first victory since 2018, and his first with the McLaren team at Monza race track.
Ricciardo’s teammate Lando Norris came in second with Mercedes Valtteri Bottas rounding out the podium positions.
Ricciardo started from second on the grid, behind drivers’ championship leader Max Verstappen, but got off to a flying start to take the lead at the first corner and was never really troubled the rest of the race.
In an interview post-race Ricciardo admitted that he didn’t see such a dominant performance coming both for himself and his team.
“To not only win but to get a one-two, it’s insane. For McLaren to be on the podium is huge.”
Ricciardo had a message for both his team and those who had counted him out since his last win via the radio after crossing the finish line.
“Deep down I knew this was going to come,” he said.
“So, thanks … thanks for having my back. And for anyone who thought I left, I never left. I just moved aside for a while. Thanks guys.”
Last night’s win is Ricciardo’s eighth of his career, all seven of his previous victories coming with his old Red Bull team, and his first since Monaco in 2018.
YES YES YES, DANIEL!!! THAT’S P1!!!
McLaren WINS the Italian Grand Prix!!! 🏆🏁
#ItalianGP 🇮🇹 pic.twitter.com/xDDI2Nb7YP— McLaren (@McLarenF1) September 12, 2021
Ricciardo’s dominant performance was helped on lap 26 when Verstappen and title rival, Lewis Hamilton, collided in a scary incident that saw them both retire from the race.
The collision occurred on corner number one and saw Verstappen’s Red Bull rise into the air and land on top of Hamilton’s Mercedes.
Hamilton believing the cockpit safety feature, the driver’s halo, saved his life.
“I feel very, very fortunate today,” Hamilton said in a post-race interview.
“Thank God for the halo. That ultimately saved me. And saved my neck. I don’t think I have ever been hit on the head by a car before and it is quite a shock for me.”
Above everything, today we are so grateful for the advances in safety of our sport pic.twitter.com/oBgq5DxM91
— Formula 1 (@F1) September 12, 2021
Ricciardo’s win sees him move up to eighth place in the drivers’ championship, with Verstappen currently leading the way five points clear of main rival Hamilton.
In the constructor standings, Ricciardo’s McLaren team has overtaken Ferrari for third place. With Mercedes still holding an 18-point lead over Red Bull Racing at the top of the table.
Photo: F1 Austria, Ricciardo side view at by Lukas Raich available HERE and used under Creative Commons Attribution. The image has not been modified.
