Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen turned up the heat at Monza with a duel that stirred memories of their fierce battles in the 2021 season. The action unfolded in the closing minutes of Free Practice 3, as both fought for the slipstream of Charles Leclerc.
Tension began at the approach to the Ascari chicane, when Hamilton tried to pass Verstappen on a preparation lap. Verstappen refused to yield, staying ahead while repeatedly checking his mirrors on the straight to the Alboreto corner to ensure Hamilton wouldn't try again.
Risky Maneuver at a Legendary Corner
But in the dying seconds, Hamilton launched his car down the inside at Alboreto. Verstappen managed to pull alongside on the main straight, giving a sarcastic thumbs-up before braking extremely late into the Prima Variante, forcing Hamilton to back off.
"He caused it all," Verstappen said in his defense. Despite the heated exchange, race stewards decided no further action was needed for the incident in the practice session.
Echoes of the Iconic 2021 Clash
For F1 fans, this felt all too familiar. At the 2021 Italian Grand Prix, at the same corner, the two collided in what became one of the sport's most iconic moments. Back then, both ended up in the gravel, with Verstappen's car even "parked" on top of Hamilton's Mercedes.
Even though it was only practice, this duel shows the rivalry between these two top drivers is still burning bright. With Mercedes now showing stronger engine performance, we could see similar battles in the main race.
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