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Daniel Ricciardo, McLaren, 1st position, celebrates on the podium
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Analysis

Why Ricciardo was set for Monza F1 triumph even without Verstappen/Hamilton crash

The clash between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton was the major flashpoint the 2021 Italian Grand Prix will be remembered for. Yet by this point, race leader Daniel Ricciardo had already done the hard work that would put him in position to end his and McLaren's lengthy win droughts, on a memorable afternoon in Monza

“We earned it. We were leading. We were putting ourselves in a great position – the team made good pitstops. We put ourselves in a winning position and it wasn’t circumstances. We can sleep knowing that we earned every bit of this.”

Daniel Ricciardo was entirely correct in his assessment of McLaren’s 2021 Italian Grand Prix result. The Australian won the race in front of team-mate Lando Norris, while title contenders Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton controversially clashed twice – the second contretemps putting both out and leaving the Mercedes driver dangerously close to being seriously injured.

Previous article Hamilton: Verstappen penalty for Italian GP crash sets “important precedent”
Next article Mercedes: Red Bull chiefs knew Verstappen in the wrong in crash with Hamilton

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