Hamilton has been playing catch-up ever since Vettel won two of the year’s first three races, but it is the Briton who now leads the drivers’ standings by three points.

After qualifying on pole, Hamilton was able to control the race as the two Mercedes proved a class apart at Monza, pulling clear of the field as Vettel completed the podium.

Valtteri Bottas quickly moved up from fourth on the grid to second - a position that never came under threat as the reigning constructors’ champions eased to a third 1-2 of 2017.

The only consolation for Vettel came through his ability to secure third place, having started the race from sixth.

Yet the momentum in the championship battle is undoubtedly with Hamilton, the first man to win back-to-back races this year.

Daniel Ricciardo performed magnificently to move up from 16th - following a grid penalty - to fourth, as Esteban Ocon and Lance Stroll slipped back to sixth and seventh respectively.

GRID PLACINGS AFFECTED BY PENALTIES GALORE

Grid penalties for Stoffel Vandoorne, Sergio Perez and Romain Grosjean were confirmed on the morning of the race, meaning a remarkable NINE drivers began the race having been sanctioned.

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Ricciardo suffered the most painful penalties, having qualified second and third, while Vandoorne, Nico Hulkenberg, Fernando Alonso, Carlos Sainz and Jolyon Palmer also tumbled down the field after taking on new power unit elements. Perez and Grosjean were punished for gearbox changes.

With so many drivers picking up grid penalties this season, tweaks to the rules must surely be in the offing for 2018.

MORE MISERY FOR MAX

Verstappen has suffered his fair share of misfortune this season and was left cursing his luck again on Sunday.

The young Dutchman suffered a puncture to his front-left tyre after tangling with Felipe Massa early in the race.

Massa escaped punishment from the stewards, who judged the contact to be the result of a racing incident, but Verstappen was clearly unimpressed, asking over team radio: “what the f*** was he doing?”

Verstappen ultimately finished 10th, but his team-mate’s outstanding surge up to fourth must have prompted thoughts of what might have been. Ricciardo almost caught Vettel as the race drew to a conclusion.

JOLYON KARMA

If Verstappen was annoyed on Sunday, Alonso was arguably the most frustrated man at Monza.

Palmer gained an advantage over the two-time world champion when missing a chicane and news of a five-second penalty for the Englishman was not enough to calm Alonso.

After repeatedly making his anger clear over team radio, Alonso subsequently checked in on the progress of Palmer after the latter had been forced to retire.

Having been informed of Palmer’s exit from the race, Alonso simply replied: “Karma.”

Sadly for Fernando, he too was unable to make the finish, retiring with a lap remaining.

IN THE POINTS1. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)2. Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) +4.471secs3. Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) +36.317s4. Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull) +40.335s5. Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari) +60.082s6. Esteban Ocon (Force India) +71.528s7. Lance Stroll (Williams) +74.156s8. Felipe Massa (Williams) +74.834s9. Sergio Perez (Force India) +75.276s10. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) + 1 lap

DRIVER STANDINGS1. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) - 2382. Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) - 2353. Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) - 1974. Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull) - 1445. Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari) - 138

CONSTRUCTOR STANDINGS1. Mercedes - 4352. Ferrari – 373 3. Red Bull – 2124. Force India – 1135. Williams – 55

NEXT UPVettel will be determined to bounce back in a fortnight’s time at the Singapore Grand Prix - an event he has won on a record four occasions.

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