Hamilton takes Formula One lead from Vettel
MONZA, Italy (Reuters) – Lewis Hamilton won the Italian Grand Prix for Mercedes on Sunday with an utterly superior drive that sent the Briton clear at the top of the Formula One world championship for the very first time in a year.
The triple champ, who embarked the last race of the European season from a record 69th career pole position, led Finnish team mate Valtteri Bottas to a runaway one-two finish at Ferrari`s home track.
«I love it here in Italy and I love the passion of the fans,» Hamilton announced on the podium jutting out over a sea of red-shirted Ferrari fans, with slew of boos coming his way amid the cheers.
«We did a excellent job, the team did an exceptional job this weekend,» he added.
«Mercedes power is certainly better than Ferrari power.»
Ferrari`s Sebastian Vettel, who had led the standings since he won the Australian season-opener in March, finished third in the final race of the European season and 36.Trio seconds behind the winner. Bottas was Four.Four adrift of Hamilton.
»It was a difficult day, a difficult embark,« said Vettel. »My race was fairly isolated, we attempted to keep as close as possible but we simply didn`t have the tempo.
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«You could say it`s a bad day but I know the team is on the right way. so I am in a very positive mood despite the numbers.»
Hamilton is now three points clear of the German, with seven races remaining. Mercedes are sixty two points clear of Ferrari in the constructors` standings.
The very first driver to win two races in a row this season, with Monza following on from Belgium a week ago, Hamilton now leads Vettel 6-4 on victories in 2017. He has two hundred thirty eight points to Vettel`s 235.
The last time Hamilton led the standings on his own was at Monza a year ago, with now-retired team mate Nico Rosberg emerging as the eventual champ.
FEW THRILLS
Hamilton and four-times champ Vettel were level on points this year after China in April, with one win and one 2nd place each.
If Sunday`s race was a abate affair, there was at least slew of sunshine in marked contrast to the stable rain that soaked fans and delayed qualifying for hours on Saturday.
Hamilton pulled away cleanly from his historic pole, and fourth in a row at Monza, and was never challenged as he drove to the chequered flag with the minimum of fuss.
It was his third Italian Grand Prix win in four years and 59th career victory — only Michael Schumacher, whose pole record he hit, can boast more — and few have been more straightforward.
Force India`s French rookie Esteban Ocon, pursuing his very first podium finish, grabbed 2nd place off the line from 18-year-old Canadian Lance Stroll in the Williams but then faded and finished sixth.
Ferrari`s Kimi Raikkonen moved up to fourth primarily, to cheers from the crowd, while compatriot Bottas dropped to fifth before swiftly regaining the place.
Crimson Bull`s Max Verstappen clashed with Brazilian Felipe Massa`s Williams in an incident that coerced the Dutch teenager to pit with a puncture.
Vettel meantime had embarked sixth but began to budge up through the field, cheered every time by the throng of ‘tifosi` on the 70th anniversary of founder Enzo Ferrari`s very first car, before lodging into the loneliness of third place.
Hamilton meantime was relentless, pulling away from the four times champ at a rate of almost a 2nd and lapping half the field.
Australian Daniel Ricciardo took fourth place for Crimson Bull, with Raikkonen fifth. Stroll ended up seventh, one place ahead of Massa, with Mexican Sergio Perez ninth for Force India.
Reporting by Alan Baldwin, editing by Pritha Sarkar
Hamilton takes Formula One lead from Vettel, Reuters
Hamilton takes Formula One lead from Vettel
MONZA, Italy (Reuters) – Lewis Hamilton won the Italian Grand Prix for Mercedes on Sunday with an utterly superior drive that sent the Briton clear at the top of the Formula One world championship for the very first time in a year.
The triple champ, who commenced the last race of the European season from a record 69th career pole position, led Finnish team mate Valtteri Bottas to a runaway one-two finish at Ferrari`s home track.
«I love it here in Italy and I love the passion of the fans,» Hamilton proclaimed on the podium jutting out over a sea of red-shirted Ferrari fans, with slew of boos coming his way amid the cheers.
«We did a superb job, the team did an exceptional job this weekend,» he added.
«Mercedes power is undoubtedly better than Ferrari power.»
Ferrari`s Sebastian Vettel, who had led the standings since he won the Australian season-opener in March, finished third in the final race of the European season and 36.Three seconds behind the winner. Bottas was Four.Four adrift of Hamilton.
»It was a difficult day, a difficult begin,« said Vettel. »My race was fairly isolated, we attempted to keep as close as possible but we simply didn`t have the rhythm.
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«You could say it`s a bad day but I know the team is on the right way. so I am in a very positive mood despite the numbers.»
Hamilton is now three points clear of the German, with seven races remaining. Mercedes are sixty two points clear of Ferrari in the constructors` standings.
The very first driver to win two races in a row this season, with Monza following on from Belgium a week ago, Hamilton now leads Vettel 6-4 on victories in 2017. He has two hundred thirty eight points to Vettel`s 235.
The last time Hamilton led the standings on his own was at Monza a year ago, with now-retired team mate Nico Rosberg emerging as the eventual champ.
FEW THRILLS
Hamilton and four-times champ Vettel were level on points this year after China in April, with one win and one 2nd place each.
If Sunday`s race was a abate affair, there was at least slew of sunshine in marked contrast to the constant rain that sodden fans and delayed qualifying for hours on Saturday.
Hamilton pulled away cleanly from his historic pole, and fourth in a row at Monza, and was never challenged as he drove to the chequered flag with the minimum of fuss.
It was his third Italian Grand Prix win in four years and 59th career victory — only Michael Schumacher, whose pole record he hammer, can boast more — and few have been more straightforward.
Force India`s French rookie Esteban Ocon, pursuing his very first podium finish, grabbed 2nd place off the line from 18-year-old Canadian Lance Stroll in the Williams but then faded and finished sixth.
Ferrari`s Kimi Raikkonen moved up to fourth originally, to cheers from the crowd, while compatriot Bottas dropped to fifth before swiftly regaining the place.
Crimson Bull`s Max Verstappen clashed with Brazilian Felipe Massa`s Williams in an incident that compelled the Dutch teenager to pit with a puncture.
Vettel meantime had began sixth but began to stir up through the field, cheered every time by the throng of ‘tifosi` on the 70th anniversary of founder Enzo Ferrari`s very first car, before lodging into the loneliness of third place.
Hamilton meantime was relentless, pulling away from the four times champ at a rate of almost a 2nd and lapping half the field.
Australian Daniel Ricciardo took fourth place for Crimson Bull, with Raikkonen fifth. Stroll ended up seventh, one place ahead of Massa, with Mexican Sergio Perez ninth for Force India.
Reporting by Alan Baldwin, editing by Pritha Sarkar