Hamilton again proved to be the master of the wet conditions during the first half of a stunning race at Monza - after starting from a career-low 15th on the grid and moving up to second on lap 27 - but remaining on extreme-wet tyres proved costly for Hamilton before he eventually finished seventh.

Explaining the tyre call that cost him, as it did in qualifying the day before, Hamilton said: "I was told it was going to rain, so I just went with what the team told me. But there was no chance of staying out on extremes. In the end it was damage limitation."

He added: "Considering the position I was in, if I'd chosen intermediates at the first stop, because I only needed one (stop), I would have finished further up.

"I know at that stage I wouldn't have had a problem if I had gone with inters."

One consolation for Hamilton is that world title rival Felipe Massa wound up in the place he started from on the grid, sixth.

It means with four races remaining, and pending McLaren's appeal next Monday into the penalty handed out in the Belgian Grand Prix, just one point separates the duo.

He added: "I still had a great race. I passed eight others, including Kimi (Raikkonen), which wasn't easy because it was very difficult out there.

"What happened was a bit of a shame, but I have still come away with my lead intact."