• Italian Grand Prix 2007

McLaren storm to victory on Ferrari's home turf

David Addison
September 9, 2007
Lewis Hamilton in front of the Tifosi © Sutton Images
Enlarge

McLaren scored a one-two finish at Monza for the first time in its 41-year history, with Fernando Alonso heading home Lewis Hamilton to crush Ferrari on home soil.

Alonso dominated the race and kept Hamilton at bay to reduce Hamilton's championship lead. Only at the restart after a safety car period, caused by David Coulthard's crashed Red Bull, did Hamilton look likely to challenge the leader. Once he had deflected the Brit's effort, Alonso got on with the job of building his lead.

Felipe Massa had challenged early in the race, going wheel-to-wheel with Hamilton for second, but a rear damper problem put his Ferrari out of the race and allowed Kimi Raikkonen up to third ahead of the BMW-Saubers - as usual, the best of the rest - of Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica.

It wasn't the greatest of Italian Grands Prix but was a crucial one for Fernando Alonso. It was his 100th Grand Prix and his victory put him just three points behind Hamilton in the drivers' contest.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
ESPN Staff Close