LEWIS Hamilton completed a flawless weekend by storming to victory at the Italian Grand Prix and moving into the lead of the Formula One Championship.
Hamilton, who turned in a wet-weather masterclass to surpass Michael Schumacher’s all-time pole position record on Saturday, led from start-to-finish here in a ruthless display at Monza.
Valtteri Bottas crossed the line in second place as Mercedes completed a dominant one-two, while Hamilton’s chief title rival Sebastian Vettel made up the podium spots to complete a weekend to forget for Ferrari in front of their home fans.
Hamilton, now three points clear of Vettel, leads the title race for the first time this season, and indeed, for the first time since the conclusion of this very race last year. The Briton, 32, has been in mesmerising form since the sport’s summer break, following up his pole position and victory in Belgium last weekend with a repeat performance at a sun-drenched Monza.
The Englishman was forced to fight hard for his victory at Spa-Francorchamps after a safety car was deployed in the closing stages of the race. But there were no such dramas for Hamilton at the Temple of Speed yesterday, as he made the perfect start to hold off the chasing pack on the long run down to turn one to retain the lead, and from there he never looked back.
For Hamilton’s chief rival in the drivers’ championship Vettel, yesterday’s race at the home of his Ferrari team was about damage limitation after his poor performance in qualifying.
Vettel made light work of his Ferrari team-mate Kimi Raikkonen to move up to fifth on lap three before he set about chasing the Canadian teenager Lance Stroll and Force India’s Esteban Ocon. Stroll at 18-years-old, and Ocon at 20, both excelled in the wet on Saturday, but they had no answer for Vettel in the dry as the German sailed past Stroll on lap five, and then Ocon three laps later.
Bottas was running in second, but the high-speed nature of the Monza circuit has suited the Mercedes car this weekend and Vettel would finish an eye-watering 36 seconds behind Hamilton.
Indeed the four-time champion spent the final knockings of the race with one eye checking his mirrors with a fast-charging Daniel Ricciardo closing in. The Red Bull driver qualified third, but started 16th following penalties for engine and gearbox changes.
However, Ricciardo progressed to an impressive fourth with a dozen laps remaining after passing Ferrari’s Raikkonen at turn one, going on to end the race four seconds adrift of Vettel.
His team-mate Max Verstappen, second-fastest in the wet on Saturday, was demoted to 13th following an engine change, and was up to eighth by the end of lap one. But his progress was later thwarted following a collision with Ferrari’s Felipe Massa at turn one in which he suffered a broken front wing and front-right puncture.
“What the f*** was he doing?” Verstappen angrily asked as he limped back to the pits for repairs. The stewards assessed the incident, but neither driver was punished. The Dutch teenager emerged in last, but fought his way up to 10th to earn a single point.
McLaren’s troubles continued as both their drivers, Fernando Alonso and Stoffel Vandoorne, retired. Alonso has now failed to finish eight races this season. Britain’s Jolyon Palmer also failed to make it to the chequered flag following technical gremlins.
Raikkonen finished fifth ahead of Ocon and Stroll with Massa eighth and Sergio Perez ninth.
Hamilton was booed by some sections of the Ferrari fans as he collected his trophy for first place.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here