While Hamilton may have had his championship lead eaten into this Sunday by Alonso, the outcome could not have been a better one for the Mclaren team. Simultaneously it can show Lewis Hamilton to have a sensible, sportsmanlike and tactical attitude towards racing while giving Alonso a victory he probably well deserves.

Alonso reminds us that while Hamilton may be the new wonder on the block, he has worked for years to get to the top and his talent is as formidable as Hamilton’s. Ron Dennis had never looked so relieved and triumphant.

Hamilton admitted he decided to race for points after he flat spotted his tires, worried of another blow out after Turkeys mishap, but he was also clearly unable to get past team-mate Fernando Alonso at either the first corner or the re-start following an early safety car, due to Alonso’s own formidable skill.

Lewis had his own moments of glory however as he retook his 2nd place position with and amazing overtake against Raikonnen breathtaking in its simplicity and confident execution. Hamilton pushed to the inside of the Finn, under braking from 330kmph, he slipped back into second place, underlining his better form this year against Raikonnen’s.

The success has made Alonso the season’s first four-time winner, and a first at Monza.

 ”It was the perfect weekend for me,” he said. “Sometimes I have started good here in Monza and then had some problems in the race and missed the victory, so to finally win here for the first time was very special.”