Boos fail to impact on winner Hamilton in Monza

Celebrations: Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton sprays the bubbly.

Lewis Hamilton revelled in his role as pantomime villain of the Italian Grand Prix after he crushed rival Sebastian Vettel at Ferrari's home race to take charge of the title battle for the first time this year.

Hamilton, who has been in mesmerising form since the sport’s summer break, followed his victory at last week’s race in Belgium with a dominant display here at Monza to move three points clear of Vettel.

The passionate Tifosi jeered Hamilton as he collected his winner’s trophy, with Vettel an eye-watering half a minute down the road in third, while Valtteri Bottas crossed the line in second to complete a one-two finish for Mercedes.

But Hamilton, the first man to win consecutive races this year, was not fazed by the boos from the Ferrari faithful. He even claimed he drowned out their disdain by recalling the lyrics of a song he had written.

“I had a real nice song playing in my head so the boos kind of went over my head,” Hamilton, 32, said. “It was one of my own, so you won’t know it.

“It is to be expected in Italy and over the last 10 years it has been common to have the boos if a Ferrari driver is not on the top step of the podium.

“Inevitably you are going to be the enemy and the villain here if you are the one stopping the Ferraris. But some days I am happy to be the villain.