Lewis Hamilton restored hope to his World Championship hopes with an excellent win in Monza. After taking one of his best pole positions in his career the 2008 Champion had a dire start when an engine mapping software crashed meaning his getaway was a poor one. The problem allowed his championship rival Nico Rosberg to take the lead followed by McLaren’s Kevin Magnussen and Williams’ Felipe Massa. It was also a poor start for 3rd placed man Valtteri Bottas who got a poor get away and got stuck behind the slow starting Lewis Hamilton. It didn’t take long for Massa and Hamilton to clear the McLaren but while the pair chased down Rosberg the German made an uncharacteristic error and went deep into Turn 1 on Lap 9 halving his lead unlike in Montreal. Hamilton soon dispatched Massa and headed off after Rosberg. Other poor starter Valtteri Bottas soon managed to make his way through the field using the speed in his Williams to take 4th off Kevin Magnussen on Lap 21. But 2 laps later when he exited the pits it went horribly wrong as he was undercutted by Vettel, Magnussen and Perez with 3 great moves in 3 corners as the Fin struggled on cold tyres. While the race was in full swing Brit Max Chilton made an error into the second chicane and bunny hopped over the sleeping policemen and into the wall ending his race and only his 2nd in his career. Just after their stop the Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton was told that he could leave a 2 second gap and attack at the end. But the man from Stevenage used his racers instinct and rode like the wind and with the help of a lapped Caterham Hamilton closed up to 0.6s behind Rosberg subsequently on lap 29 causing Rosberg to crack under the pressure and out brake himself yet again at Turn 1 handing the lead to Hamilton who built a gap and controlled the race. But the action didn’t stop there when moments later Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso had a gearbox failure ending his race meaning he wouldn’t be on the podium in a Ferrari for the first time. Bottas then got back to 4th while Daniel Ricciardo took Button Perez Magnussen and then his team mate using the grip advantage from the overcut and a stunning move. There was also a great battle between button and Perez with the 2009 Champion getting past the Mexican only to be repast moments later with Perez even taking to the sleeping policemen to get the palace back. On the penultimate lap Torro Rosso’s Daniil Kvyat had a brake failure nearly resulting in him hitting Kimi Raikkonen. Kevin Magnussen also got a 5 second penalty for ‘forcing Bottas off the track’ which was an unfair penalty for the young Dane fighting for his seat. But it was Lewis Hamilton who took the win to close up just a little to Nico Rosberg to keep his hopes alive going to one of his favourite tracks where he won in 2009 (Singapore). But until then the point’s advantage is with Rosberg but the fans and the psychological advantage is with Hamilton as Rosberg was booed again on the podium.
1. Lewis Hamilton
2. Nico Rosberg
3. Felipe Massa
4. Valtteri Bottas
5. Daniel Ricciardo
6. Sebastian Vettel
7. Sergio Perez
8. Jenson Button
9. Kimi Raikkonen
10. Kavin Magnussen
11. Daniil Kvyat
12. Nico Hulkenberg
13. Jean-Eric Vergne
14. Pastor Maldonado
15. Adrian Sutil
16. Romain Grosjean
17. Kamui Kobayashi
18. Jules Bianchi
19. Esterban Gutierrez
20. Marcus Ericsson
Fernando Alonso DNF
Max Chilton DNF
1. Lewis Hamilton
2. Nico Rosberg
3. Felipe Massa
4. Valtteri Bottas
5. Daniel Ricciardo
6. Sebastian Vettel
7. Sergio Perez
8. Jenson Button
9. Kimi Raikkonen
10. Kavin Magnussen
11. Daniil Kvyat
12. Nico Hulkenberg
13. Jean-Eric Vergne
14. Pastor Maldonado
15. Adrian Sutil
16. Romain Grosjean
17. Kamui Kobayashi
18. Jules Bianchi
19. Esterban Gutierrez
20. Marcus Ericsson
Fernando Alonso DNF
Max Chilton DNF