WATCH: Mayhem in Monza as Nico Hulkenberg and George Russell trigger early drama in Italian Grand Prix

The 2024 Italian Grand Prix at Monza got off to a chaotic start, with early incidents setting the tone for what would become a highly unpredictable race. The first major event occurred on lap 8 of the 53-lap race when Yuki Tsunoda's hopes were dashed following a collision with Nico Hulkenberg a lap earlier. The incident forced Tsunoda to retire, marking the first driver exit of the day.

Hulkenberg found responsible for the collision, was hit with a 10-second penalty, a harsh yet necessary consequence for the crash that effectively ended Tsunoda's race. Hulkenberg's day had already been marred by penalties.

Here is the video:

#ItalianGP #F1 #Race wow bravo #NicoHulkenberg, #DanielRicciardo put him out pic.twitter.com/NW5CkT8VM8

— linalan (@linalan01) September 1, 2024

Before his collision with Tsunoda, he had been forced off the track by Daniel Ricciardo in an aggressive manoeuvre that earned Ricciardo a 5-second penalty. The stewards were quick to act, ensuring that the rules were upheld amidst the intensifying on-track battles.

George Russell is in trouble!

Meanwhile, George Russell found himself in trouble almost immediately after the race began. On lap 2, Russell missed the first corner, an error that did not go unnoticed. The Red Bull team swiftly alerted the stewards, pointing out the potential damage to Russell’s front wing. The Mercedes driver was soon dealing with the consequences, as the damage forced him into an enforced pit stop.

The race for Russell became even more challenging on lap 4 when he lost his position to Sergio Perez before making his way into the pits. The early setback placed Russell at a disadvantage, struggling to regain his momentum in a race that had already seen its fair share of drama.

With multiple penalties and critical mistakes unfolding within the first few laps, the Italian Grand Prix quickly turned into a test of endurance and strategy for the drivers. As the race progressed, the opening chaos set the stage for what would be a thrilling and unpredictable battle at Monza.