Hamilton extends lead after controversial win
Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton won a controversial Italian Grand Prix to extend his championship lead over title rival Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel to 30 points.
The Briton took the initiative early in the race, causing Vettel to spin as he tried to defend against an overtaking move by Hamilton at the second chicane on the first lap.
Hamilton, whose paternal grandparents hail from Grenada, took the outside line and was slightly ahead as they turned into the corner after the German had had a little look at a possible passing move on Raikkonen in the lead.
Vettel’s car slid into Hamilton’s in the middle of the chicane and he spun in front of the pack, his front wing broken.
The Ferrari driver complained over the radio, but the stewards judged it a racing incident not worthy of further action.
Vettel was left to recover lost ground and eventually took fourth – partly thanks to a fivesecond penalty for Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who finished third on track but was demoted to fifth after crowding Hamilton’s teammate Valtteri Bottas off the track.
“I want to give it up to Ferrari, who put up a great challenge this weekend. There was a lot of negativity here and I could see so many British flags out there, and they inspired me so much,” Hamilton said after the race.
“In future, the negative is only a positive for me, because I turn it around. Big thank you for the team and also for Valtteri for helping me.”