Lewis Hamilton Takes Stunning Victory At Monza

The Mercedes driver led from pole and crossed the finishing line in 4.4 seconds ahead of team-mate Valtteri Bottas with Ferrari title rival Sebastian Vettel a distant third with 36.3 seconds behind. It was his sixth victory of the season that prompted him three points clear of Vettel in the drivers’ championship with Bottas in third.

Hamilton made a good getaway from pole position by moving right across the track to defend from Lance Stroll and leading into Turn 1. Esteban Ocon took advantage of Stroll to sweep around the outside and settled into second.

Further back, Bottas touched wheels with Kimi Raikkonen as they came through the first chicane. The 2007 champion snatched the position back at the second chicane but his fellow countryman swept around the outside of to reclaim the place.

Bottas then took third on lap three from Stroll before breezing past Ocon the following lap to move into second. The Finn reeled in the gap but couldn’t get within two seconds of his team-mate and ultimately finished second to secure Mercedes’ third one-two of the season.

Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo produced yet another impressive recovery drive and put great move on Raikkonen for fourth before setting about catching his former Red Bull team-mate Vettel but it was too late as the Ferrari driver took the chequered flag in the final podium position.

Raikkonen complained of a problem with the rear end of his car and had pitted early but he got ahead of only Stroll who was delayed unfortunately in his stop before passing Ocon on track for fifth. Stroll challenged Ocon in the closing stages but couldn’t make a move before fending off veteran team-mate Felipe Massa to take seventh.