Hamilton saved by halo after major crash with Verstappen

F1 title rivals Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton suffered a second major incident of this season during the Italian Grand Prix.

Hamilton was rejoining from the pits after opting to start on the hard tyres and run an alternate strategy to Verstappen and the two McLarens ahead.

Verstappen had lost time with an 11-second stop just a few laps beforehand and as Hamilton merged into the Rettifilo, the Mercedes squeezed the Red Bull at the apex of the chicane.

Neither would yield and as their tyres tangled, Verstappen hit the sausage kerb at the apex of the corner, first with the front-left tyre and then the rear left.

With the latter, the car bounced up off the kerb and onto the top of Hamilton's car.

The right-rear wheel, in particular, hit the top of the roll hoop and then the halo as Hamilton ducked low into his car and appearing to brush the top of his helmet.

Without the halo, the wheel would almost certainly have hit Hamilton hard.

The incident left both cars in the gravel and again proved the halo is a welcome addition to F1 as Hamilton was potentially saved by the structure.

The pair had come close to blows at the second chicane on lap one as Verstappen forced Hamilton wide.

The double retirement means Verstappen remains in the lead of the title race by five points.

It was Hamilton's first retirement in 64 races.

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