Hamilton and Verstappen clash at Monza as Russell sets pace
Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen clashed wheel-to-wheel in final practice at the Italian Grand Prix on Saturday, forcing Hamilton off at Monza’s first chicane. FIA stewards took no further action after both drivers blamed each other. George Russell set the FP3 pace ahead of both rivals.
Key Takeaways
- Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen raced side-by-side into Turn 1 at the end of 2026 Italian GP FP3.
- Verstappen braked late on the inside; Hamilton cut the run-off and both abandoned their final flying laps.
- The FIA confirmed no further action against either driver after conflicting team-radio blame.
- George Russell topped FP3 in 1:22.219, with Hamilton second and Verstappen third.
- Stewards also took no further action on a Russell–Piastri impeding incident in the same session.
What happened between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen at Monza?
In the closing minutes of FP3 at Monza, Hamilton appeared to jump Verstappen in the queue for final flying laps. The pair effectively raced wheel-to-wheel down the pit straight toward the first chicane.
Official Formula 1 footage framed the moment as shades of their infamous 2021 clash: side-by-side into Turn 1 at the end of final practice. Verstappen was seen giving Hamilton a thumbs up at full speed before diving late down the inside.
Hamilton had to take avoiding action and cut across the run-off area at the chicane. Neither driver completed what would have been his final flying lap, with both backing off afterward as qualifying approached.
Did the FIA punish Hamilton or Verstappen?
No. According to PlanetF1, the FIA confirmed stewards will take no further action against Lewis Hamilton or Max Verstappen for the FP3 incident.
Both pointed the finger at each other on team radio. Verstappen told Red Bull, “He caused that.” Hamilton reported to Ferrari, “I got blocked by Max, so…,” with race engineer Carlo Santi replying, “Yes, we saw.”
The flashpoint followed Verstappen’s earlier frustration when Sergio Perez’s Cadillac ran wide at Lesmo 1 and kicked up gravel. Verstappen said over radio that a Ferrari was “always” in the way. Stewards also took no further action on a separate impeding incident between George Russell and Oscar Piastri, after Piastri encountered a slow-moving Russell at the apex of Lesmo 1.
Who set the pace in Italian GP FP3?
Russell led final practice with a 1:22.219. Hamilton was classified second, 0.226 seconds behind. Verstappen was third, 0.350 seconds off Russell’s benchmark.
The Monza scrap keeps the weekend’s spotlight on Formula 1’s most charged rivalry even without a penalty. For more high-stakes investigations and unresolved paddock puzzles, browse True Crime & Unsolved Mysteries on BlasterPost.