Carlos Sainz - F1 - sportstiger

Picture Credit: Twitter/@F1

The Imola GP is underway at the 4.909-kilometer Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari track in Italy and Ferrari have had the worst start with one of their drivers out of the race already. Carlos Sainz had to walk back to the pits after he collided with McLaren's Daniel Ricciardo.

The accident took place in the first lap of the race itself when the two vehicles made contact. While Daniel got going after the collision, Carlos Sainz had to leave the track and walk back to the pits.

Watch the video of the collision here:

After a fast start, Ricciardo's McLaren was up into fifth and got past Sainz heading into the opening corner on a wet track. But the Ferrari then went around him the long way, and after Ricciardo appeared to run over the curb and move inwards slightly, the front of his car hit Sainz in the side. While the collision forced Ricciardo into 19th and running last, Sanz was out of the Grand Prix, with a safety car sent out.

Daniel Ricciardo was heard saying “I got pushed” on the race radio. However, the race director deemed there was no investigation needed and called it a racing incident.

We are not fighting for championship this year: Lewis Hamilton

Earlier, before coming into the main race, Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton accepted that his team has no chance of defending their title this year. Notably, the seven-time champion finished 14th, three places behind his teammate George Russell, in Saturday’s sprint race at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.

“We are obviously not fighting for the championship this year - first of all we have to understand this car and improve and make some progress through the year. That’s all we can hope for,” admitted Hamilton. “We are all working hard and there are a lot of people in the team who have been here for 20 years - so it’s not new for them," he added.