Verstappen penalized for collision with Hamilton at Monza

The championship leader and his closest competition are out of the Italian Grand Prix after 27 laps following Red Bull's Max Verstappen and Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton's collision at the second corner of Monza.

Verstappen will have a three-place grid penalty for the Russian GP, scheduled to take place in two weeks.

"I made sure I left a car's width on the outside for him and was obviously ahead," Hamilton said following the race, according to Fergal Walsh of Motorsports Week. "I was ahead going into Turn 2 and then all of a sudden he was on top of me.

"It's exactly the same scenario that happened (earlier in the race) in Turn 4 where I went around the outside, was in exactly the same position, but I gave way," Hamilton said. "And that's racing. He just didn't want to give way today, and he knew going into Turn 2 what was going to happen.

"(Verstappen) knew that he was going over the curbs, but he still did it," Hamilton continued. "We'll speak to the stewards, but I don't really know what else to say."

The pair came together while wheel to wheel through the first and second corners of the track. The rear wheels collided, sending Verstappen airborne and on top of Hamilton's car.

Verstappen entered the Italian GP racing from pole position with 224.5 points. Meanwhile, Hamilton sits second in the championship table with 221.5 points.

Mercedes is ahead in the constructors' championship, leading Red Bull 347.5 to 334.5.

Daniel Ricciardo was the race leader when racing resumed on lap 31, with teammate Lando Norris quickly jumping into second. The two McLaren drivers wound up finishing 1-2.