Lewis Hamilton Wins Italian GP to Take F1 Lead

Lewis Hamilton Wins Italian GP to Take F1 Lead

Lewis Hamilton was at his masterful best as he stormed to victory at the Italian Grand Prix to take the lead of the Formula One championship for the first time this season.

A day after turning a wet-weather masterclass in Monza to surpass Michael Schumacher’s all-time pole position record, Hamilton drove another superb race to lead teammate Valteiri Bottas in a Mercedes 1-2.

Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel, driving in front of their home fans, made up three spots to complete the podium.

Following Sunday’s race, Hamilton now leads the drivers’ championship by three points, his first lead since taking the chequered flag in Monza last year.

The British three-time world champion has been in blistering form since returning from F1’s summer break, following up victory in Belgium last weekend with yet another dominant display.

He scored a dazzling pole in treacherous conditions Saturday to move one ahead of the legendary Schumacher to 69, before blazing from lights out to flag for his sixth race win of the season.

While he had to fight hard for his victory at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium after a safety car was deployed in the closing stages, it was rather straightforward for the 32-year-old in Monza after he held off the chasing pack to turn one and retain the lead he never relinquished.

Hamilton’s main title contender, Vettel, worked his way up the grid past Canadian teenager Lance Stroll and Force India’s Esteban Ocon, but had no answer for the sheer speed of Mercedes as he finished a staggering 36 seconds behind Hamilton.

Next up for F1 is the Singapore GP on September 17.