4. Max and Lewis come to blows a second time at Monza
The events of the Italian Grand Prix two months later could almost be a direct sequel to the drama of Silverstone. Ever since the British Grand Prix we had been waiting to see when - not if, you'll notice - Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton would make contact again, who would be at fault, and what the consequences would be. The drivers had been on their best behaviour leading into the summer break, but once the season resumed it wasn't long before tempers were back at boiling point.
Verstappen benefitted from the sprint qualifying race to start from pole position, while Hamilton lost out badly and started down in fourth. Daniel Ricciardo surprised Verstappen at the start and took the lead, while Hamilton immediately dispatched Lando Norris to run right behind the Red Bull. His initial attempt to pass was rebuffed in the firmest of manners and the Mercedes was swept out wide by an unyielding Verstappen at turn 4. Hamilton hoped to jump his rival during the pit stops but instead they ended up coming back out wheel-to-wheel.
Verstappen was squeezed into turn 2, hit a sausage kerb and connected with the left rear of the Mercedes. The impact launched Verstappen into the air and he came back down on top of Hamilton's Halo and roll bar with the interlocked cars ending up in the gravel. Neither driver was injured, but the sight of Verstappen stalking away while Hamilton remained trapped in his cockpit under the Red Bull was not the best of optics. Red Bull blamed Hamilton but the stewards ruled that Verstappen was at fault and handed him a three-place grid penalty for the Russian GP, turning up the heat on the title battle still further.
