MONZA, Italy -- Championship contenders Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton clashed on the opening lap of the Italian Grand Prix.
The front three had gone into Turn 1 in the order they had qualified -- with Kimi Raikkonen leading Vettel and Hamilton -- but charged down to the second chicane in close proximity. As Vettel looked on the inside of his Ferrari teammate, championship leader Hamilton made a run around the outside of the corner.
As Hamilton swept around the outside of Vettel, there was light contact. Vettel's right-front tapped the sidepod of Hamilton's car, spinning him around and giving him front wing damage.