‘It may just have saved his life’: F1 champ Hamilton escapes after rival’s car lands on his in ‘absolutely bizarre’ crash (VIDEO)

Lewis Hamilton and main rival Max Verstappen have crashed out of the Italian Grand Prix in a dramatic collision that almost flipped the back of the standings leader's car onto the Brit's head.

Reigning champion Hamilton made a desperate attempt to drive off after being grounded on the side of the track following the clash with Verstappen, which started with the pair locking wheels and ended with the Belgian-Dutch star's car tipping up into the air and landing on part of the competing Mercedes.

While steam appeared to emanate from both vehicles, Hamilton kept his engine running in a doomed ploy to continue racing after 27 laps at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza.

A team order appeared to tell Hamilton to switch off his engine, ensuring that the leaders in the title race both bounced out less than two months after a hugely controversial incident in which Verstappen's British Grand Prix came to a harrowing end when the pair again collided, earning Hamilton a 10-second penalty and accusations of recklessness on that occasion.

"What the..." asked the official Mercedes Twitter account, responding shortly after the team had celebrated their star taking the lead in the race.

"Lewis is out of the Italian GP. For everyone asking, Lewis is OK. He's on his way back to the paddock now."

Mercedes stated that the incident, which sent Verstappen's wheels heading perilously close to Hamilton's head, would be subject to an investigation.

Some shocked viewers pointed out that the halo – a crash-protection innovation made of a curved bar which is to protect drivers' heads – had saved Hamilton from a potentially serious injury.

"The halo may have just saved Lewis Hamilton’s life," reported one broadcaster, sharing a close-up photo of the scare. "Thank goodness for it."

Arguments over apportioning blame began just as swiftly as they had when the adversaries clashed in July.

"I look forward to Christian Horner's ensuing PowerPoint presentation where he tries to assign 100 percent blame to Lewis Hamilton for that crash," said one reporter, namechecking the boss of Vertappen's Red Bull Racing team who was furious with Hamilton over his driver's high-velocity exit at Silverstone. "F1 should livestream the hearing."

"Max Verstappen has to sometimes use his head man," said another. "He wasn't going to make that corner ahead of Lewis Hamilton.

"I'll be surprised if there are people out here who will defend this. Costly and stupid mistake."

A commentator for Sky Sports described the crash as "absolutely bizarre". "Verstappen – his car's not just beached, but it's wedged into the gravel," they observed.

Verstappen, who started the day on pole, was quoted to have told his team on the radio: "That's what happens when you don't give space."

That prompted an angry reaction from fans who felt he had been too aggressive given the space that seemed to be available.

Some joked that the producers behind 'Formula 1: Drive to Survive', the hugely popular documentary on Netflix following the thrills and spills of Formula One, would be pleased by the latest drama to hit a Grand Prix.

Mercedes accused Red Bull of attempting to smear Hamilton's reputation after his previous crash with Verstappen, and the 36-year-old was bullish afterwards, insisting that he would not have acted differently despite copping ample criticism.

Daniel Ricciardo earned his first win for McLaren to secure a one-two finish for the team as Lando Norris came second on Sunday. Russian driver Nikita Mazepin retired from the race with 10 laps to go.