The stars aligned for McLaren this morning as Daniel Ricciardo held onto the lead ahead of his teammate Lando Norris to win the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, his first win since 2018 and the team's first win since 2012. It was also the team's first 1-2 finish since 2010.
F1 hosted its second-ever sprint qualifying on Saturday ahead of the Italian Grand Prix. Valtteri Bottas won pole position, but because of an engine adjustment, a grid penalty moved him to the rear, promoting Max Verstappen to pole, and Daniel Ricciardo to P2. Lewis Hamilton started P4.
Ricciardo got away well after lights out and stole the lead from Verstappen into the first chicane. Hamilton got up to P3 and tried to challenge Verstappen for P2 but was crowded out and ultimately lost the place to Lando Norris. Yuki Tsunoda suffered suspension issues, while Pierre Gasly couldn't get his car ready in time after his crash in the sprint qualifying, forcing Alpha Tauri to retire from the race.
Antonio Giovinazzi ran into some trouble at the second chicane, when he had to leave the track and rejoin but was tagged by Carlos Sainz Jr., sending him into a spin. He was able to keep the car going and get to the pits for a new front wing.
Verstappen and Hamilton Collide
By Lap 14 Bottas was already up into the points in P10. Vettel went to pass Esteban Ocon for P12 but was pushed out by the Frenchman on Lap 15 when the Alpine made contact with his front left tire. Vettel did not suffer a flat and was able to keep going.
Lap 23 saw the first pit stops for tires. Ricciardo pitted for tires and got away with a 2.4-second stop. Verstappen pitted the next lap but was delayed and suffered an 11 second stop. Hamilton pitted on Lap 25, and as he was leaving the pits he and Verstappen came together through the first chicane, both ending up into the gravel and resulted in Verstappen's car parked on top of Lewis. Both drivers retired, Verstappen was unable to replicate his win from last weekend at Zandvoort.
Ricciardo was back in the lead on the restart and stayed ahead. Behind him Norris battled Leclerc for P2 and ultimately got the place, putting both McLarens in P1 and P2. Bottas meanwhile was up into P5 and challenging Leclerc for P4, who was passed by Sergio Perez. Leclerc had to cut through a chicane to avoid contact and gave the place to Bottas. Leclerc was able to get the place back immediately, but the next lap saw the Mercedes surge through and take the place.
Perez earned himself a five-second penalty for track limits into Turn 5. The leaders continued until Lap 44 when Nikita Mazepin parked at the Ascari chicane from a mechanical failure, bringing out the virtual safety car. The Haas was quickly pulled off of the track, and the race resumed.
Ricciardo held onto the lead with Norris finishing P2, earning McLaren's first F1 victory in 10 seasons. Bottas completed the podium, following Perez's five-second penalty.