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2016 Italian GP: Rosberg dominates, Hamilton botches Monza start

Italy - Monza - Nico Rosberg won the 2016 Italian GP virtually unchallenged on Sunday after Mercedes team mate Lewis Hamilton wasted pole position with a poor start.

Hamilton got off the line at the same time as the other cars but immediately fell behind, dropping to sixth before the first corner. Hamilton, who effectively lost the race in the first 20 metres when the lights went out, now leads the title race with 250 points ahead of Rosberg on 248.

Rosberg, who started second, took the early lead and cruised to his seventh win of the season, second straight this year and first of his career at the storied Monza circuit, which has hosted more F1 racing than any other track.

As it happened: 2016 Italian GP

Rosberg also cut Hamilton's championship lead to two points with seven races remaining.

Hamilton climbed his way back through the field to finish second.

Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen crossed third and fourth, respectively.

It was Rosberg's first Italian win, his seventh of the season and 21st of his career, boosting his championship challenge with seven races remaining.

Rosberg said: "Thank you very much guys. It's great to win Italy."

It was also the 50th podium finish of Rosberg's career and prevented Hamilton completing a cherished hat-trick of Italian wins, to equal a feat achieved only once before by Juan Manuel Fangio in the 1950's, and register his 50th career victory.

It was the first time in seven years that the race was not won by the driver starting from pole position.

Daniel Ricciardo finished fifth for Red Bull ahead of Valtteri Bottas of Williams, Dutch teenager Max Verstappen who was seventh in the second Red Bull, Sergio Perez of Force India, retirement-bound Felipe Massa in the second Williams and German Nico Hulkenberg in the second Force India.

Crashes, retirements

The first lap also saw a huge crash between Renault and Sauber rookies.

Felipe Nasr and Joylon Palmer collided on the first lap. Nasir was handed a 10-second penalty by race stewards. Ultimately both drivers retired from the race. Manor driver Pascal Werhlein also retired from the race due to mechanical issues.

Results of the 2016 Italian Grand Prix at Monza on Sunday:

1. Nico Rosberg (GER/Mercedes) 1hr 17min 28.089sec 
2. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) at 15.070sec 
3. Sebastian Vettel (GER/Ferrari) 20.990 
4. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN/Ferrari) 27.561
5. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Red Bull) 45.295 
6. Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Williams) 51.015 
7. Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull) 54.236 
8. Sergio Perez (MEX/Force India) 1:04.954
9. Felipe Massa (BRA/Williams) 1:05.617
10. Nico Hlkenberg (GER/Force India) 1:18.656 
11. Romain Grosjean (FRA/Haas) 1 lap
12. Jenson Button (GBR/McLaren) 1 lap
13. Esteban Gutierrez (MEX/Haas) 1 lap 
14. Fernando Alonso (ESP/McLaren) 1 lap
15. Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP/Toro Rosso) 1 lap
16. Marcus Ericsson (SWE/Sauber) 1 lap
17. Kevin Magnussen (DEN/Renault) 1 lap
18. Estban Ocon (FRA/Manor) 2 laps

For drivers standings, click here.

Championship standings:

Drivers' championship

1. Lewis Hamilton (GBR) 250 points
2. Nico Rosberg (GER) 248 
3. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) 161 
4. Sebastian Vettel (GER) 143 
5. Kimi Rikknen (FIN) 136 
6. Max Verstappen (NED) 121 
7. Valtteri Bottas (FIN) 70 
8. Sergio Prez (MEX) 62 
9. Nico Hlkenberg (GER) 46 
10. Felipe Massa (BRA) 41 
11. Fernando Alonso (ESP) 30 
12. Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP) 30 
13. Romain Grosjean (FRA) 28 
14. Daniil Kvyat (RUS) 23 
15. Jenson Button (GBR) 17 
16. Kevin Magnussen (DEN) 6 
17. Pascal Wehrlein (GER) 1 
18. Stoffel Vandoorne (BEL) 1

Constructors' championship

1. Mercedes 498
2. Red Bull 290 
3. Ferrari 279 
4. Williams 111 
5. Force India 108 
6. McLaren-Honda 48 
7. Toro Rosso 45 
8. Haas 28
9. Renault 6 
10. Manor 1

2016 Italian GP: Race results


For team standings, click here.

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