Britain's Mercedes racer Lewis takes drivers’ championship lead for the first time this year after claiming a lights-to-flag victory at Italian Grand Prix
Britain's Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton celebrates his victory in the Italian Grand Prix at the Autodromo Nazionale circuit in Monza yesterday. Pic/AFP
Britain's Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton celebrates his victory in the Italian Grand Prix at the Autodromo Nazionale circuit in Monza yesterday. Pic/AFP
Lewis Hamilton took over as leader of the drivers' world championship for the first time this year yesterday when he claimed a lights-to-flag victory as Mercedes dominated the Italian Grand Prix.
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Hamilton, 32, seeking his fourth world title, made a perfect start from his record 69th pole position to lead his Mercedes teammate Finn Valtteri Bottas home for his sixth win this year, his third at Monza and the 59th of his career.
Hamilton now leads four-time champion Sebastian Vettel by three points after the German finished third, 36 seconds adrift, in his Ferrari in front of a big home crowd on the weekend of the Italian team's 70th anniversary celebrations.
Ham smashes record
Having won in Belgium last Sunday, Hamilton also became the first driver to score back-to-back victories this year. It was Mercedes' third one-two this year and the team's 39th overall. Hamilton now has 238 points ahead of Vettel on 235 and Bottas on 197 while in the constructors' championship Mercedes lead with 435 to Ferrari on 373.
"I am really happy with my show. The team did a great job. Mercedes power is definitely better than Ferrari power," said Hamilton, who was booed by a large partisan crowd. Bottas also praised Mercedes' teamwork.
"The car was so strong. It was amazing how quick we were and it was a pure joy to drive. A perfect result! No drama," he said. Vettel added: "It was entertaining, quite good fun. We just didn't have the pace of the leading two drivers, but going around seeing these people gives us a lot of hope. We have a strong car and will have a strong end to the season."
Australian Daniel Ricciardo, who started 16th after incurring grid penalties, came home fourth for Red Bull ahead of Finn Kimi Raikkonen in the second Ferrari.
Bottas claims third place
Bottas bounced back to reclaim fourth from his fellow-Finn on lap two and then passed Stroll and French rookie Estaban Ocon to secure second place behind his Mercedes teammate. By lap 14, having run within 10 seconds of the lead as he climbed to third, Vettel was more than 12 seconds behind as Ferrari encouraged their men to find more pace.
Force India finish in top 10
Force India Formula One team enjoyed a productive double point finish as Estaban Ocon and Sergio Perez grabbed the sixth and ninth spots. Perez (58 points) and Ocon (55) are now at seventh and eighth spots at the drivers' standings respectively while Force India occupies the fourth place at the constructors' standings with 113 points.
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No. of points Lewis Hamilton leads Ferrari driver Vettel by
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