Boos fuel Lewis to win in Ferrari’s backyard
Not Classified: TAUNTS from a proFerrari Italian crowd meant nothing to Lewis Hamilton, who saw off Sebastian Vettel after an early collision then overtook Kimi Raikkonen on his way to victory at Monza.
Hamilton then thanked fans for their inspiring negativity and jetted off home. Job done.
After this brutal discarding of the Italians in their own backyard, Hamilton took with him a 30-point lead in the drivers’ title race and equalled Michael Schumacher’s haul of five victories at the Italian Grand Prix. Few would now bet against him sticking around the sport to try to emulate the German’s record of seven world championship wins.
Tongue-in-cheek he might have been when he called the crowd “great” during his victory speech but surely Hamilton could be allowed a such a dig. “Today was so difficult,” he said after hearing a chorus of boos from the crowd when he stepped on to the podium. “While the negativity is never great, that’s what powered me along. I actually accept it.
“I love being here in Italy – the track is incredible and it’s a such an honour to win here in front of such a great crowd.”
Vettel, of course, chose to blame Hamilton for the collision.
“Lewis saw a little bit around the outside but he didn’t leave me any space,” said Vettel. “I had no other chance but to run into him and make contact.”
Damon Hill, speaking as a pundit for Sky, disagreed, saying: “Sebastian Vettel cracked under pressure, it has to be said.”
Hamilton’s former Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg added: “I think it was 100 percent Sebastian’s fault. Lewis left him enough room.”
Hamilton still had work to do but was helped by team-mate Valtteri Bottas, who led after the Briton pitted and held up Raikkonen long enough for the other Mercedes to close the gap. Hamilton then took his chance eight laps from the end.
“The car was quick enough but unfortunately our rear tyres went,” said Raikkonen, in no mood to celebrate his 100th podium after finishing second. “It was a losing battle from that point.”
Vettel, who made two stops including a first one to replace a damaged front wing, moved up a place at the finish after Red Bull’s Max Verstappen was THE SCOUT handed a five-second penalty for pushing off Bottas on lap 44. Vettel was back in the points by lap 15, helped by the safety car coming out immediately after his spin as marshals removed New Zealander Brendon Hartley’s damaged Toro Rosso.
Verstappen was fifth, with Romain Grosjean sixth for Haas and Esteban Ocon seventh for Force India ahead of team-mate Sergio Perez.