Ross Brawn believes that Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen both could have avoided crashing into each other at the Italian Grand Prix. The title rivals collided on Lap 26 of Sunday's race at Monza as they went head-to-head at the first chicane. This latest incident between the pair put them both out of the Grand Prix, and Verstappen has been given a three-place grid penalty to be taken at the next event. Brawn, Managing Director of F1, was disappointed that the clash deprived fans of getting to watch another battle between the two drivers. "Max and Lewis visited the stewards after the race and it was Max who was given the blame – and a three-place grid penalty for Russia – for causing the collision at the first chicane," Brawn wrote in his column for Formula1.com. "Fans will be split, I'm sure. It's clear both drivers could have avoided it. Ultimately I think it's another consequence of two guys going head-to-head and not wanting to give an inch. "It's a shame they ended up in the gravel because it could have shaped up to be a great race – and we were deprived of that." It marks another controversy in the World Championship fight between Hamilton and Verstappen, with the rivals previously clashing at Silverstone. Brawn doesn't expect either driver to change their approach going forwards, and also feels that the dynamic between them will not be altered by their latest run-in. "I'm interested to see what impact this has on their ongoing battle for the title," Brawn explained. "We have lived through Silverstone which was a major and controversial incident. "Personally, I wouldn't say it has changed the dynamic. You've got two cockerels in the farmyard at the moment and we are seeing the consequence of it. "I don't think either will back off at either time for the rest of the year but I hope the championship is won on the track, not in the barriers or the stewards' room."
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