5 things we learned from Italian Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton took a major step towards winning the world championship after moving 30 points clear of Sebastian Vettel following his win in Italy.

The 33-year-old Briton overcame an opening-lap collision with Vettel before passing Kimi Raikkonen in the closing stages to seal a dramatic victory.

Here, Press Association Sport looks back at five things we learned from the 14th round of the championship in Monza.

Is Hamilton at the peak of his powers?

In the aftermath of his brilliant Monza victory, Hamilton admitted that his record-equalling fifth triumph at the “Temple of Speed” was up there with his very best. It was hard to disagree with him. Who else, other than perhaps Fernando Alonso, would have gone into Ferrari’s heartland with inferior machinery, and beaten both of the red cars. As Vettel faltered once more, Hamilton didn’t put a foot wrong. The Briton’s greatest strength has always been his speed over one lap, but his race craft and mental strength in the intensity of battle is better than it has ever been. Are we now witnessing Hamilton at the peak of his powers? Should he go on to beat Vettel to the championship, in a Mercedes which hasn’t been the class of the field this year, it should be regarded as his very best yet.

Pressure mounting on Vettel as Ferrari throw it away

As Hamilton goes from strength to strength, Vettel and Ferrari fluffed their lines on the biggest stage of the year. Just how did the Italian team manage to lock out the front row of the grid, and finish second and fourth? Vettel demanded answers on Saturday night (and probably rightly so) after Raikkonen, benefiting from a slipstream off Vettel’s car, took pole position. Then, Vettel’s failure to play the long game in the race by conceding second to Hamilton on the opening lap cost him dearly. Vettel blamed Hamilton for the collision, but the feeling in the paddock was one of another mistake by the German. Vettel is 30 points adrift of Hamilton with 175 on the table. All is not lost for Ferrari ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix in a fortnight’s time, a track which has suited them in recent seasons. But to stand any chance of stopping Hamilton, Vettel cannot make any further errors over the remaining seven races. Recent history, however, suggests that will not happen.

Bottas proves his worth as Hamilton’s number two

To emphasise just how big Ferrari’s advantage over Mercedes was this weekend, was to look at the pace of Valtteri Bottas. The Finnish driver was nowhere in practice, half-a-second back in qualifying, and behind Red Bull driver Max Verstappen for much of Sunday’s race. The reliable Finn, however, proved an able deputy to Hamilton after he was instructed to compromise his own race by backing Raikkonen into Hamilton’s path, and thus, enabling the British driver to reel the Ferrari car in. Mercedes say that Bottas is there on merit, and he will be driving for the Silver Arrows next year, too. But Bottas’ willingness to help Hamilton and play the team game is a motivating factor for Mercedes. Would Nico Rosberg have messed up his own race to help Hamilton? Don’t be silly.

Haas to protest Grosjean disqualification

In the final hours of Sunday night, Haas driver Romain Grosjean was excluded from sixth place following an irregularity on the floor of his car. Renault, who had just been usurped by Haas for fourth in the constructors’ championship, lodged the protest, and Grosjean was booted out. Haas announced they will appeal the decision. The late-night change to the results shuffled everyone up the order, and allowed Williams driver Sergey Sirotkin to be classified in 10th to claim the first point of his career.

Stroll shouldn’t be written off just yet

Lance Stroll’s career has been bankrolled by his fashion billionaire father, Lawrence. The Canadian teenager, in his second season, is likely to follow his father to Force India following his recent takeover of the British-based team. This has left a sour taste in the mouth of some, with Esteban Ocon’s future now in danger. While Stroll isn’t the next Ayrton Senna/Alonso/Hamilton, he isn’t the absolute disgrace that some have painted him out to be either. Yes, he is in F1 because of substantial financial backing, but name one driver who isn’t? Even Hamilton has been assisted by Mercedes money since the age of 12. On Saturday, Stroll, 19, managed to get a Williams car in the top 10 on the grid for the first time this year before he took the chequered flag in a credible ninth.