Hamilton goes top after Monza win
Crushing Mercedes 1-2 dislodges Vettel
MONZA: Lewis Hamilton took over as leader of the drivers’ world championship for the first time this year when he claimed a lights-to-flag victory as Mercedes dominated the Italian Grand Prix yesterday.
The 32-year-old Briton, seeking his fourth world title, made a perfect start from his record 69th pole position to lead his Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas home for his sixth win this year, his fourth at Monza and the 59th of his career.
Hamilton now leads four-time champion Sebastian Vettel by three points after the German finished third, 36.317 seconds adrift, in his Ferrari in front of a big home crowd on the weekend of the Italian team’s 70th anniversary celebrations.
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 season and the team’s 39th overall.
Australian Daniel Ricciardo, who started 16th after incurring grid penalties, came home fourth for Red Bull ahead of Kimi Raikkonen in the second Ferrari, French rookie Esteban Ocon of Force India, Canadian teenager Lance Stroll and his Williams teammate Felipe Massa.
Mexican Sergio Perez took ninth in the second Force India ahead of Dutchman Max Verstappen, who had started 13th for Red Bull and suffered an early puncture.
Hamilton broke Michael Schumacher’s record for all-time pole positions by securing his 69th with a devastating lap in the final seconds of Saturday’s rainhit qualifying.
The 32-year-old Briton steered his Mercedes through treacherous conditions with patience, precision and courage to deliver a best lap in one minute and 34.660 seconds.
He had shared Schumacher’s record of 68 after taking pole in last weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix to set up victory and the record.
“To do this here at such an historic circuit — I am going to have some pasta tonight to celebrate,” said Hamilton. “Sixtynine poles — I just can’t believe it.” RESULTS 1. Lewis Hamilton (Britain) Mercedes 1:15:32.310; 2. Valtteri Bottas (Finland) Mercedes +00:04.471; 3. Sebastian Vettel (Germany) Ferrari 00:36.317; 4. Daniel Ricciardo (Australia) Red Bull — TAG Heuer 00:40.335; 5. Kimi Raikkonen (Finland) Ferrari 01:00.082; 6. Esteban Ocon (France) Force India — Mercedes 01:11.528; 7. Lance Stroll (Canada) Williams-Mercedes 01:14.156; 8. Felipe Massa (Brazil) Williams-Mercedes 01:14.834; 9. Sergio Perez (Mexico) Force India — Mercedes 01:15.276; 10. Max Verstappen (Netherlands) Red Bull — TAG Heuer 1 lap OVERALL STANDINGS Drivers: 1. Lewis Hamilton (Britain) Mercedes 238 points; 2. Sebastian Vettel (Germany) Ferrari 235; 3. Valtteri Bottas (Finland) Mercedes 197; 4. Daniel Ricciardo (Australia) Red Bull 144; 5. Kimi Raikkonen (Finland) Ferrari 138; 6. Max Verstappen (Netherlands) Red Bull 68; 7. Sergio Perez (Mexico) Force India 58; 8. Esteban Ocon (France) Force India 55; 9. Carlos Sainz Jr (Spain) Toro Rosso 36; 10. Nico Huelkenberg (Germany) Renault 34 Constructors: 1. Mercedes 435; 2. Ferrari 373; 3. Red Bull — TAG Heuer 212; 4. Force India — Mercedes 113; 5. Williams-Mercedes 55; 6. Toro Rosso — Renault 40; 7. Haas — Ferrari 35; 8. Renault 34; 9. McLaren 11; 10. Sauber — Ferrari 5